Follow Weah’s Footsteps And Concede Defeat To Tinubu – LP Faction Tells Atiku, Peter Obi

The Lamidi Apapa-led faction of the Labour Party (LP) has asked its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his counterpart in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, to concede defeat and congratulate President Bola Tinubu.

The spokesman of the LP faction, Abayomi Arabambi, made this known in a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday.

Arabambi called on Atiku and Obi to borrow a leaf from President George Weah, who conceded defeat to former Vice President Joseph Boakai in the Liberian presidential election.

He stated that both Weah and Boakai have proven that any election is neither a do-or-die affair nor a war that must be won at all costs.

While arguing that former President Goodluck Jonathan also toed the same line, Arabambi urged Ariku and Obi to join Tinubu in rebuilding the country.

He said, “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  President Bola Tinubu after they had explored all the opportunities availed by the Constitution and the Electoral Act.

“The incumbent, who in spite of losing his second term as President yesterday did not wait for anyone before he congratulated the winner. As a responsible leader, the former President Goodluck Jonathan also did the same like George Weah, and today he is being reckoned with as a great pillar of democracy.

“Labour Party therefore appeal to Obi’ and Atiku to support the administration and have faith in ongoing reforms. We had expected the duo would bury the hatchet and join hands with the President in delivering the Renewed Hope Agenda. Nigerian leaders should emulate this spirit of sportsmanship.”

Recall that Boakai, who previously served as the 29th vice president of Liberia under former President Ellen Sirleaf Johnson from 2006 to 2018, had defeated the incumbent, George Weah.

Weah, a former World Footballer of the Year award recipient, had conceded defeat after the country’s electoral umpire announced Boakai as the winner with 50.9 per cent of the vote with Weah garnering 49.1 per cent.