It was a different stroke for different folks on Wednesday. For President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Supreme Court judgment dismissing Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) petition is a victory for the people.
But, for Atiku and the PDP, the judgment has denied the people the good leadership they deserve.
Buhari, in a statement, thanked the people of Nigeria for the mandate they gave to him to run the affairs of the country for another four years.
‘Buhari elected by majority’
A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, said: “The Government – and people of Nigeria – have been aware that the result of February 23, 2019, the presidential election has been settled now for some eight months. ‘‘President Buhari was re-elected by an absolute majority of 55.6 per cent of the national vote, with Nigerians casting nearly 4 million more votes for President Buhari than his nearest challenger – representing a margin close to 15 per cent of the total vote.
“The former Vice President and his political party exercised their rights, under the Nigerian Constitution and electoral laws, to petition the courts and dispute this result.
‘‘They did so first at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal which ruled in September 2019 against them. Now – following his appeal to the Supreme Court and its ruling to dismiss their case for “lacking merit” – this matter is now closed.
“The President and Government of Nigeria do wish to extend our gratitude to former vice-president and his party for undertaking their campaign through protestations to the courts.
‘‘In this regard, they have conducted themselves in line with the laws of the country they sought to lead.
“Now, following this final legal bid before the highest court, it is time the country is afforded the right to move on – in the interest of all Nigerians – regardless of how they voted.
“The elected President and his Government now must be enabled to focus solely on addressing the issues that concern the country.
‘‘From building economic empowerment and opportunities for the nearly 200 million Nigerians, 60 per cent of whom are youths bubbling with energy, to defeating the twin ills of terrorism and corruption, there is much work to do.
“So too must the opposition be afforded the right to focus directly on their vital role of holding the administration to account for its decisions.
‘The governance of democracy only functions as it should when those checks on the executive are in place – and utilised.
“The opposition, as much as the government, must now move on – and without the need for further distractions,” he said.
APC: Court’s verdict apt
The APC described the Supreme Court’s verdict as apt.
The APC, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, commended the apex court for dismissing the PDP and Atiku’s petition and for refusing to be blackmailed against its conscience.
According to the party, the victory won at the Supreme Court would enable the APC-led Federal Government to go ahead and face the task of delivering the Next Level programmes to Nigerians.
The party, however, encouraged the opposition party and its presidential candidate to abandon other alleged plans to continue antagonising the government, saying democratic politics cannot thrive in chaos.
“The All Progressives Congress (APC) welcomes the Supreme Court’s dismissal of the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar against President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2019 election victory.
“We congratulate Nigerians, the President; Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; party leaders, members and supporters on the Supreme Court’s verdict.
“Following the earlier judgment of the 2019 Presidential Election Petition Tribunal which dismissed in its entirety the PDP and Atiku’s petition, the Apex Court was apt in dismissing the appeal for lacking merit.
“The Party hails the Judiciary for standing firm in the face of the PDP and Atiku’s subterfuge and for siding with the Nigerian electorate who through their votes decided to do away with PDP’s ignominious past and re-elect the President Buhari-led APC administration which has ushered in a new era of progressive growth for our country.
“With the ruling of the Supreme Court, which has finally affirmed President Buhari’s election victory, we enjoin the PDP and Atiku to jettison their destructive and disruptive agenda against Nigeria, which they have made up their minds to pursue for the next four years.
“The PDP and Atiku should not confuse opposition politics for their unpatriotic agenda. Democratic politics cannot be practised in the state of anarchy, confusion which the PDP and Atiku wish to achieve. Such a diabolic plan will definitely fail.
“Going forward, the President Buhari-led APC government will continue to focus on delivering our Next Level plans for the country,” the party said.
Atiku, PDP shocked
In a statement yesterday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said the verdict delivered by the apex court was not what majority of Nigerians, who participated and observed the presidential election expected.
“The PDP notes that it indeed made a solid case, with indisputable evidence, showing that Atiku Abubakar won the presidential election and as such is surprised that the justices of the Supreme Court held otherwise; however, that is the highest court of the land.
“Notwithstanding, the distinction of our case remains for Nigerians, including generations yet unborn, to appreciate”, the party said.
The PDP expressed gratitude to millions of Nigerians across the board for voting Atiku in the election as well as for their unflinching support for the party during the election and throughout the duration of court proceedings.
“Nevertheless, our party, indeed the nation, awaits the justices of the Supreme Court to release their reasons behind their verdict,” the party added.
Atiku, in a statement, described the judgment as part of the nation’s democratic challenges, saying: “It is said that the Supreme Court is not final because it is infallible, but that it is infallible because it is final.
“While I believe that only God is infallible everywhere, and only Nigerians are infallible in our democracy, I must accept that the judicial route I chose to take, as a democrat, has come to a conclusion.
“Whether justice was done, is left to the Nigerian people to decide. As a democrat, I fought a good fight for the Nigerian people. I will keep on fighting for Nigeria and for democracy, and also for justice.
“I thank all Nigerians who have stayed the course since the commencement of trial in the petition on the February 23 presidential election. The judgement is part of democratic challenges we must face as a nation”.
According to him, the Nigerian judiciary, just like every estate of the realm, has been sabotaged and undermined by an overreaching and dictatorial cabal, who he said has undone almost all the democratic progress the PDP and its administrations nurtured for sixteen years, up until 2015.”
Atiku continued: “Can Nigeria continue like this? Recently, former United States Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, averred that Nigeria had rolled back the democratic gains she made in 2015.
“When democracy is rolled back, the economy, the society and the judiciary will not be far behind. Today, the nail has been put on the coffin and the gains we collectively made since 1999 are evaporating, and a requiem is at hand.
“In a democracy, you need a strong judiciary, a free press and an impartial electoral umpire. Nigeria has none of those three elements as at today.
“One man, one woman, one youth, one vote, should be the only way to make gains in a democracy. And when that is thwarted, the clock starts to tick.
“Two and a half millennia ago, Sophocles said ‘If we are to keep our democracy, there must be one commandment: ‘Thou shalt not ration justice’. Nigeria will do well to observe this warning.
“To those who think they have broken my spirit, I am sorry to disappoint you. I am too focused on Nigeria to think about myself. I gave up that luxury twenty years ago. The question is not if I am broken. The question is if Nigeria is whole?
“This is not a time for too many words. It will suffice for me to remind Nigeria of this – we are an independent nation and we are the architects of our fate. If we do not build a free Nigeria, we may end up destroying her, and God forbid that that should be the case.
“I was a democrat, I am a democrat, and I will always continue to be a democrat. May God bless Nigeria.”
Secondus: God is ultimate judge
PDP National Chairman Prince Uche Secondus hailed Nigerians for supporting the party during its travails, adding that final judgment comes from God.
Secondus, in a statement by his media adviser, Ike Abonyi, said the commitment of Nigerians to democracy and its tenets despite inhibiting factors, is worthy of emulation and highly commendable.
Secondus said: “We thank you for your support for PDP, for your commitment to democracy. Nigerians know that you voted PDP, even APC knows that you rejected them on February 23, 2019, international community knows you voted for PDP if the Supreme Court of seven justices say otherwise, leave it to God the ultimate Judge”.
He also commended the media for their commitment to democracy and good governance and urged them not to relent in their roles of holding politicians accountable to the people.
Secondus enjoined Nigerians to remain resolute in their prayers to God, saying that the country “is in such an untidy state and that only God can bail her out”.
