Jonathan to PDP: Don’t mourn my loss

•Urges those aggrieved to go to court President Goodluck Jonathan has asked leaders and members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) not to mourn his loss at the presidential election. Jonathan said this in a statement he issued Tuesday night before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, […]

•Urges those aggrieved to go to court

President Goodluck Jonathan has asked leaders and members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) not to mourn his loss at the presidential election.

Jonathan said this in a statement he issued Tuesday night before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) president-elect.

The president said the ruling PDP’s family should rather be celebrating him for establishing “a legacy of democratic freedom, transparency, economic growth and free and fair elections”.

“To my colleagues in the PDP, I thank you for your support. Today, the PDP should be celebrating rather than mourning…For the past 16 years, we’ve steered the country away from ethnic and regional politics. We created a Pan-Nigerian political party and brought home to our people the realities of economic development and social transformation. Through patriotism and diligence, we’ve built the biggest and most patriotic party in Nigerian history. We must stand together as a party and look to the future with renewed optimism”, he said.

Thank Nigerians for turning out en-masse for the elections, he said he had fulfilled his promise of free and fair elections and expanded the space for the citizens to participate in the democratic process.

“That is one legacy I will like to see endure”, the president stressed, assuring that he would continue to do his best “at the helm of national affairs” until the end of his tenure.

The president urged those who might feel aggrieved about the outcome of the election to follow due process based on Nigeria’s constitution and electoral laws, in seeking redress.

He, however, noted that the unity, stability and progress of the country is more important than anything else.

“Although some people have expressed mixed feelings about the results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), I urge those who may feel aggrieved to follow due process based on our constitution and our electoral laws, in seeking redress. As I’ve always affirmed, nobody’s ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian.”

He said he congratulated all Nigerians for successfully going through the electoral process “with the commendable enthusiasm and commitment that was demonstrated nationwide”.

The president also commend the security services “for their role in ensuring that the elections were mostly peaceful and violence-free”.

The president said he had conveyed his “personal best wishes” to Buhari, praying” May God Almighty continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.