Former Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose, said it was obvious that the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, had lost the Saturday’s presidential election.
Despite the collation of the presidential election still ongoing, the PDP chieftain asked Atiku to accept defeat in maturity and retire to Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.
Out of the 13 states so far declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Atiku won five, failing to capture most of the South-South and South-East states which had been PDP stronghold in past elections.
In a series of tweets on Monday, Fayose said the PDP had no “moral right” to claim patriotism to the country, apparently in reaction to the protests by Dino Melaye, spokesperson for the PDP presidential campaign, over the results of the presidential election for states as announced by INEC.
According to Fayose, the opposition party did not deserve to be pitied over the unfolding outcome of the presidential election because those seeking to attain power via its platform are reaping what they sowed in 2015.
He recalled that the PDP presidential candidate and some chieftains of the party frustrated the re-election bid of the then President Goodluck Jonathan when they defected from the party ahead of the 2015 presidential election and joined the ruling party, APC.
The former Ekiti governor also noted that the alleged arrogance of the current handlers of the party led to the exit of the Lapour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, who eventually became a forefront candidate in the 2023 presidential election.
He, however, commended Mr. Obi and criticised the PDP for failing to take steps to address the crisis in the party, which led to the formation of the G-5 group by five aggrieved governors of the PDP, ahead of the presidential election.
Fayose wrote, “Our candidate, H.E. Atiku Abubakar (aka ‘Atiku is coming’) should accept defeat in maturity and retire peacefully to Dubai. At this juncture, may I say good night and goodbye to all you represent.
“Therefore, no sense of comradeship with Obi will work. After all, they knew his potential, yet he was not deemed fit for the party’s ticket, and he was eased out. Today, he has retired all of them.
“The present managers of the PDP need to be told that the sympathy of Nigerians is not for the party. They should stop hiding under Peter Obi’s LP to pretend to have a sense of patriotism that they don’t have.
“Most importantly, election is a process, and those not satisfied can vent their anger in court. It is, therefore, time to allow Nigeria and Nigerians to move on. If you think Nigerians love or still want PDP as an alternative, by now, the message should be instructive.
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“Almighty’ Iyorchia Ayu, the National Chairman, even lost his Ward and Local Government to another party after cashing out like a man struck and stocked with poverty. As it is now, PDP turning around to cry foul has no place with Nigerians. Not at all.
“In life, they say what goes round comes round. Beyond this, does the PDP want to win an election with a fractured party that it is now? Kwankanso, Obi, etc. were driven out of the party, and they claimed they could win without the G5 Governors.
“However, I cannot but berate the PDP which has no moral right to cry foul. Those handling the party obviously knew this was going to be the outcome and possibly the end of their arrogance and sense of entitlement, especially bearing in mind that they were the 2015 traitors.
Sufuy “I commend the courage and resilience the Labour Party (LP) Presidential candidate HE. Peter Obi, for his uncommon and unprecedented outing and outcome of this election. It is not unexpected going by support he enjoys with Nigerians.” (culled from Metrowatch excepting headline and some edits)
