- Thanked Nigerians who have stayed the course
- We thanked Nigerians for staying with the PDP – Secondus
Atiku, in a statement, described the judgment as part of the nation’s democratic challenges, saying, “It is said that the Supreme Court is not final because it is infallible, but that it is infallible because it is final.
“While I believe that only God is infallible everywhere, and only Nigerians are infallible in our democracy, I must accept that the judicial route I chose to take, as a democrat, has come to a conclusion.
“Whether justice was done, is left to the Nigerian people to decide. As a democrat, I fought a good fight for the Nigerian people. I will keep on fighting for Nigeria and for democracy, and also for justice.
“I thank all Nigerians who have stayed the course since the commencement of trial in the petition on the February 23 presidential election. The judgment is part of democratic challenges we must face as a nation”.
According to him, the Nigerian judiciary, just like every estate of the realm, has been sabotaged and undermined by an overreaching and dictatorial cabal, who he said have undone almost all the democratic progress the PDP and its administrations nurtured for sixteen years, up until 2015.
Atiku said, “Can Nigeria continue like this? Recently, former United States Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, averred that Nigeria had rolled back the democratic gains she made in 2015.
“When democracy is rolled back, the economy, the society and the judiciary will not be far behind. Today, the nail has been put on the coffin and the gains we collectively made since 1999 are evaporating, and a requiem is at hand.
“In a democracy, you need a strong judiciary, a free press and an impartial electoral umpire. Nigeria has none of those three elements as at today.
“One man, one woman, one youth, one vote, should be the only way to make gains in a democracy. And when that is thwarted, the clock starts to tick.
“Two and a half millennia ago, Sophocles said ‘If we are to keep our democracy, there must be one commandment: ‘Thou shalt not ration justice’. Nigeria will do well to observe this warning.
“To those who think they have broken my spirit, I am sorry to disappoint you. I am too focused on Nigeria to think about myself. I gave up that luxury twenty years ago. The question is not if I am broken. The question is if Nigeria is whole?
This is not a time for too many words. It will suffice for me to remind Nigeria of this – we are an independent nation and we are the architects of our fate. If we do not build a free Nigeria, we may end up destroying her, and God forbid that that should be the case.
“I was a democrat, I am a democrat, and I will always continue to be a democrat. May God bless Nigeria”
On his part, the PDP national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, hailed Nigerians for supporting the party during its travails, adding that final judgement comes from God.
Secondus, in a statement by his media adviser, Ike Abonyi, said that the commitment of Nigerians to democracy and its tenets despite inhibiting factors, is worthy of emulation and highly commendable.
Secondus said, “We thank you for your support for PDP, for your commitment to democracy. Nigerians know that you voted PDP, even APC knows that you rejected them on February 23, 2019, international community knows you voted for PDP, if the Supreme Court of seven justices say otherwise, leave it to God the ultimate Judge”.
He also commended the media for their commitment to democracy and good governance and urged them not to relent in their roles of holding politicians accountable to the people.
Secondus however enjoined Nigerians to remain resolute in their prayers to God, saying that the country is in such an untidy state and that only God can bail her out.
Also reacting, Atiku’s running mate in that election, Mr Peter Obi, said the concern of all discerning minds on the outcome of the apex court’s judgment should be the effect of the judgment on the society.
In a statement, Obi said that the issue really is not about the parties or the candidates, but about the society and what the leaders are bequeathing to the children.
“The issue here is not about the candidates or the party, it’s about democracy and our society”, he said.
According to him, the party and its candidate decided to approach the court after the election because they were sufficiently convinced that what was declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) did not reflect the votes cast by majority of Nigerians.
Mr Obi commended Nigerians for their commitment to PDP and to democracy and urged them not to relent. he also commended the legal team for all their effort, which he said, would undoubtedly enrich the nation’s jurisprudence.