‘Come Out Openly, Congratulate Tinubu’ – Shittu Tells Peter Obi

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Wahab Shittu, has urged the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the last election, Peter Obi, to refrain from criticism and congratulate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Naija News recalls that the Supreme Court had on Thursday, October 26, 2023, dismissed the appeals brought by Peter Obi and his counterpart in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar.

The apex court stated that concerns raised about fraud, violations of electoral law, and Tinubu’s eligibility to run for president lacked merit.

However, the former Governor of Anambra State, during a press conference on Monday, said the apex court judgment amounts to a total breach of the confidence the Nigerian people have in the judiciary.

Shittu, a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday night, faulted Peter Obi’s assertion about the verdict of the Supreme Court, affirming Tinubu’s victory at the February 25, 2023 poll.

The SAN argued that while every court judgement can be subject to criticism, such criticism should be based on the merits and justification of the judgment.

Shittu noted that every contest has a winner and a loser, adding that Peter Obi should be able to draw a parallel with sportsmanship and acknowledge that loss is an essential aspect of the game.

He said, “In a contest, there must be a winner; there must also be a loser. As a sportsman, you should be able to accept defeat when you have lost. Mr. Peter Obi came not just second but third.

“He appealed to the Tribunal, he lost. He appealed again to the Supreme Court, but he lost. I think what is required of him is to come out openly and congratulate the winner, that is how a democrat ought to behave.”