President Muhammadu Buhari has pleaded with the All Progressives Congress, APC, aspirants who lost out out during the just-concluded party primaries to display the spirit of sportsmanship and not dump the party.
Buhari advised them to emulate Ambode Akinwunmi, the governor of Lagos State, who, despite the fact that he has lost in his bid to pick the party’s ticket to contest for second term, still participated actively in the just-concluded party convention.
While congratulating those that won the party’s ticket for various positions in 2019 elections, President Buhari in a statement by Malam Garba Shehu, his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, in Abuja Sunday, appealed to those not lucky to accept the outcome of the primaries in good faith.
The statement read: “President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated winners of All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries across the country, urging losers to demonstrate sportsmanship by accepting the outcomes without bitterness or resentment.
“In every competition, someone has to win and someone has to lose, but those who lost should not abandon the party or lose their enthusiasm for the advancement of the party.”
President Buhari advised Nigerian politicians to learn from several aspirants such as Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State “who despite his loss didn’t abandon APC for another party because he was angry over the outcome of the gubernatorial primaries.’’
The President said that: “the larger interest of our party is greater than our individual ambitions, and we should therefore work together for its success, despite our losses.’’
According to President Buhari, “in politics, we shouldn’t lose hope permanently because tomorrow could present another opportunity for us to contest again and win.’’
He advised the losers of the primaries “to always put the party first because we are in it together to serve the country, and I am always proud of our members who demonstrate sportsmanship and a good party spirit.”
President Buhari also enjoined the winners “to show grace in victory, instead of mocking the losers, as such action is capable of destroying party unity and cohesion. The tent is large enough for us.
“Those elected should see their positions as a public trust instead of abusing their mandates to amass personal wealth at the expense of the ordinary voters who voted them into power.’’
