By Musa Baba Adamu
The Lamidi Apapa-led faction of the Labour Party (LP), on Sunday charged its presidential candidate, Peter Obi and his counterpart from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar to emulate the President of Liberia, George Weah and congratulate President Bola Tinubu.
The Liberian President, Weah lost his re-election bid to opposition leader, Joseph Boakai.
Following his defeat, Weah conceded defeat to Boakai by congratulating the winner.
However, the LP’s factional spokesman, Abayomi Arabambi, urged Obi and Atiku to team up with Tinubu in delivering the Renewed Hope Agenda.
A statement by Arabambi reads partly: “The Liberian Presidential Election, though still on as the electoral umpire is yet to declare the winner of the election, the results so far have compelled the incumbent President George Weah to congratulate the opposition candidate, Boakai, who is obviously the winner.
“The Labour Party believed that it’s instructive that elections like any competition would produce the winner and loser. This is why the behaviour and reaction of President George Weah even before the official announcement of the results of the presidential election in Liberia to his loss should be commended and African leaders should emulate.
“Nigerian leaders should emulate this spirit of sportsmanship.
“President George Weah of Liberia again has shown like Former Presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari that incumbency is not a tool to be used to rig election and opposition should not be intimidated by incumbency.
“The time is ripe for former Vice-president and PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and former Governor of Anambra State and presidential candidate of LP, Mr Peter Obi to congratulate the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu after the former had explored all the opportunities availed by the Constitution and the Electoral Law.
“As a responsible leader, former President Goodluck Jonathan also did the same as George Weah, and today he is being reckoned with as a great pillar of democracy.
“The Labour Party therefore appealed to Obi’ and Atiku to support the administration and have faith in ongoing reforms.
“We had expected the duo to have buried the hatchet and join hands with the president in delivering the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Peter Obi and Atiku should exhibit the spirit of sportsmanship and congratulate the president and join hands with him to revamp the economy and deliver dividends of democracy to Nigerians.”
