Group chides Obj over call for election cancellation

Oodua Youths Initiative, OYI, a socio-cultural group, has chided former president Olusegun Obasanjo, for calling for the cancellation of the just concluded presidential election.

Obasanjo had yesterday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to cancel election and reschedule such cancelled election along with areas where elections were disrupted for next Saturday, March 4, 2023.

Warning Obasanjo not to set the country on fire, OYI, in a statement by its coordinator, Yemisi Ajibola, said it was disappointed by the statement made by the former president, asking Nigerians not to take him serious.

“How can you call for cancellation of an already conducted election? Where do they do that. We are not surprised by the statement by the former president. He has always been mischievous. Why we are not saying the election was perfect, there was a great improvement. Even in the so-called developed countries that we quote often, elections aren’t also perfect. We will continue to improve. The introduction of BVAS, for example, has done us so many good. Rigging and manipulation have drastically reduced.

“Someone cannot sit in the confine of his farm and say this election should be cancelled. Was Baba the only one who lost his unit? Even Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as well as President Muhammadu Buhari couldn’t deliver their states. That shows democracy is being entrenched. We should look for how to improve it and not go back to the dark days.

“Also, religious leaders should desist from act capable of dividing Nigerians. We have watched with dismay comments by some of these so-called religious leaders. It is uncalled for. They should be cautioned. We should serve as advisors to these our leaders. Whoever wins should be embraced. We all travel to foreign countries, do we consider religion before going there? We go there because of opportunities. That is what we should all be concerned about.

“For us, we will urge INEC to continue the collation, announce the winners and let’s move on. At least, the law court is the hope of everyone. Let those who aren’t satisfied with the outcomes approach the court. That is the best thing. We commend INEC leadership for the improvement in our elections,” Ajibola added.