NIGERIANS REACT TO BUHARI'S VICTORY, URGE ATIKU TO CONCEDE DEFEAT

The much anticipated 2019 presidential election has come and gone, and incumbent president Muhammadu Buhari of All Progressives Congress (APC) has been declared winner after defeating his close rival, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by 3.9 million votes.

However, since the outcome of the election, many Nigerians home and abroad have been reacting, congratulating the newly elected president while they also urged Atiku to concede defeat and congratulate Buhari instead of embarking on any legal tussle that can't yield him any desired results but drag the nation's growing democracy backward.

Those The Message International sought their views on the just concluded presidential election also spoke in the same vein. They added that the interest of Nigeria as a country should rank far above any personal objective in the hearts of every Nigeria irrespective of any religious, ethnic or political affiliation.

'I think Atiku should just congratulate Buhari in the spirit of  sportsmanship'

-BOLA OWOJORI

"I don't see any reason Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and the PDP are still interested in wasting their time, challenging the outcome of the election. It's obvious Atiku couldn't have defeated Buhari even if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office was moved to Adamawa, Atiku's state. The result actually showed that Atiku is not on ground in the as many Nigerians were made to believe. Buhari has larger followership than Atiku in the north,  and the results announced by the INEC were a reflection of their strength in that region. And that's where we had larger turnout of voters than in the south. So, why is he wasting his time going to court when he even almost lost out in his home state.? I think he should just concede defeat and congratulate Buhari and let's move Nigeria forward."

'Atiku should just accept defeat and let's move on'

-UCHE WILLIAMS

"I don't think the election was rigged as being perceived by the PDP. It's just that the sections of the country Atiku solely relied on failed him due to the level of apathy demonstrated their during the election. Imagine the total number of votes cast in about five states in the south east was not up to the total votes Buhari alone got in Kano. So, will you now say Atiku and Peter Obi were also rigged out in South East? Yes, I didn't vote for Buhari because I have lost interest in his government, but to say the fact, the man won the election and should be congratulated by Atiku. Atiku should drop his case and let's move on."

'Atiku has no case'

-MALLAM ALIYU ADAMS

"Although, there's no crime in going to court after election if you're not satisfied with the results of the election, taking it too far is what's not good. Atiku has no case', he will surely lose in court. He has even forgotten he too signed he would accept the outcome of the election. Why not learn from former president Jonathan? The interest of Nigeria should be first before any personal interest. After all, he and Buhari are close brothers. It's not the issue of the north versus the south. It's a north north affair, and they have both proved their strength across other regions. And no matter how, one person must emerge victorious. And that's what has happened. So, Atiku should just congratulate Buhari while Buhari should also embrace him."

'Atiku should be allowed to exercise his fundamental right'

-GIDEON AIYEGBANI

"There's nothing wrong in going to court after election. It's allowed anywhere in the world. In as much PDP and Atiku are not taking to violence, whatever legal step taken is allowed under the law. Atiku as an aggrieved candidate in the election has registered his dissatisfaction about the outcome of the election and headed for court which is normal. But if I were Atiku, I will drop the case and congratulate Buhari because the results across the country as declared by the INEC showed there's no rigging or may I say the level of malpractices was quite low because there's no perfect election across the globe."

'Atiku and PDP should just sheath their sword'

- OLADELE MARY

""First, we thank God the election had gone, remaining the second phase of the election coming up on Saturday, March 9. Now that we have reelected Buhari, he should just perform this time around. We don't want any excuse. However, be that as it may, Atiku should just go and sit down. It's obvious he had lost the election, and going to court is like medicine after death. We can't afford to go backward. He should just respect the peace agreement he signed before the election. He can still recontest in 2023."