- Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has reacted to the victory of Senator Ademola Adeleke at the Osun tribunal
- OBJ said the decision of the tribunal to declare Adeleke winner of Osun guber election is a good move for Nigerian judiciary
- The former president also commended Adeleke for his statesmanship in going to court to seek justice
Former president Olusegun Obasanjo has given a commending knock on the judiciary system following the decision of the election tribunal to declare Senator Ademola Adeleke winner of the Osun guber election.
Legit.ng reported that Adeleke, the candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2018 Osun gubernatorial election, was declared the authentic winner following the verdict by Justice Peter Obiora-led tribunal panel.
Reacting to the development in a statement he personally signed, the former president hailed the judgement, adding that the election that brought All Progressives Congress (APC)'s Gboyega Oyetola in as Osun governor was illegal.
The statement read: “While I was in Dubai to attend the Global Education and Skills Forum meeting, I received the news of the judgment of the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal declaring Senator Ademola Adeleke, the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the winner of the 2018 Governorship election in the state.
“Let me take this opportunity to commend the tribunal for its courage in nullifying what was clearly illegality. This action by the judicial officers, albeit a first step in the legal process, gives renewed confidence in the judiciary at a time when there are coordinated efforts by some political leaders to undermine, if not destroy, it.
“As I have repeatedly said, the world is watching events in Nigeria with keen interest. What we do or do not do right in our electoral process will have implications not just for Nigeria but for Africa and indeed the world. By correcting what was clearly a desperate attempt to change the will of the Osun people, the tribunal has saved Nigeria from great embarrassment and started the process of saving and strengthening our democracy.
“Let me also commend Sen. Adeleke for his statesmanship in going to court to seek justice. This is the right and proper thing to do in any decent society. Going to the court must be encouraged and not discouraged as some people are now attempting to do.
“While I have refrained from commenting on the 2019 elections because one of the parties has gone to court, may I point out that those who call themselves our development partners and friends and preach sacrificing justice on the altar of so-called stability are enemies of justice, democracy and Nigeria.
''We will continue to sustain Nigeria instability and unity on the altar of justice, equity, fairness, freedom, human rights and democracy. Stability cannot be successfully built on injustice, corruption, inequity, and divided nation, and incompetence, nepotism and one-sidedness.
“Nigeria will march forward with or without those who will want to feed us with a diet of values and actions that are not acceptable in their own countries. Nigeria is of age. And if Buhari could go to court three times to seek justice, even without reasonable cause, any Nigerian who feels denied of justice must feel free to go to court.
“Those who have conceived and are promoting the narrative that if Atiku Abubakar continues to seek legal redress there will be violence, are evil minds looking for an excuse to unleash violence on Nigerians. At no time in history has sustainable peace been built on theft, injustice, corruption and inequity.
“These merchants of chaos and violence should have no place in any decent society. And they must know that no intimidation or prophesy of violence and doomsday will cow anybody.
“Nigeria belongs to all Nigerians. We will respect as friends those who believe that what is good for their country should be good for Nigeria. Yes, we are Africans but we have values that are consistent with international standards. The court is part of our democratic process and it must be used when necessary if only to achieve justice, stability, unity and progress for our country.”
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Meanwhile, Legit.ng had earlier reported that former minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, had congratulated Senator Ademola Adeleke on his victory at the Osun election tribunal on Friday, March 22, 2019.
Adeleke, the candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2018 Osun gubernatorial election, was declared the authentic winner following the verdict by Justice Peter Obiora-led tribunal panel.
In a subsequent reaction on his Facebook page, the former minister said he was ''overjoyed and overwhelmed'' by the senator's victory.
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Osun Election 2018: I will surely win this election - Senator Adeleke | Legit TV
Source: Legit.ng
