Senator Kabir Marafa has asked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to support President Bola Tinubu to move Nigeria forward.
Speaking to State House correspondents after meeting with President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Marafa emphasized the need for unity in the interest of the nation’s progress.
Marafa expressed his hope that all parties would put their differences aside and join hands with the President to address the critical challenges facing the nation.
He acknowledged the constitutionally given right of those who had challenged the president’s victory and noted that with the apex court’s verdict, the battle was now over.
He echoed Tinubu’s commitment to concentrating on his duties without distraction, emphasising the importance of coming together to move the country forward.
He said “my prayer and wish for them is to bury their differences and join hands with Mr. President to move the country forward, especially given the problems we have across the nation.
“So, we need all hands on deck now. It is over. They have done what they are supposed to have done. The constitution gives them inherent rights to challenge the victory. But with the verdict of the apex court, the battle is over.
“Like the president said, he is going to concentrate on his job without giving anybody any opportunity to distract him.
“So, on their part, I wish they would join hands with Mr. President to move the country forward.”
Drawing from his personal experience of losing an election, Senator Marafa highlighted the need to accept defeat gracefully and work together for the betterment of the nation.
He called on national leaders to do the same, emphasising that it was time to focus on building Nigeria and addressing the hardships faced by the masses.
Responding to a question about whether the president should form a government of national unity, Senator Marafa left the decision to Mr. President, recognising his political acumen.
He suggested that the behavior of participants in the days to come, particularly their response to the court’s judgment, would influence the president’s decision.
Marafa stressed the importance of having all hands on deck for successful governance, particularly in a diverse and complex country like Nigeria.
