A former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, yesterday appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and other presidential candidates in the 2019 general elections to accept the outcome of the poll in good faith.
Gowon who made the appeal in an interview shortly after the opening of an exhibition in honour of an Emeritus Professor of Medicine, Oladipo Akinkugbe, held at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.
He enjoined the political gladiators to imbibe the spirit that made former President Goodluck Jonathan accept defeat to Buhari in 2015.
He said: “What happened last time (2015), if you remember, there was so much tension and the tension was so high that if things had gone wrong, Nigeria would be on fire. Then, as a result, (former) President Jonathan agreed at the early stage to say he accepted the results and congratulated Gen Buhari. Now, this is the way.
“I was in Ethiopia on African Union (AU) mission. The feeling before what happened, there was tension, anxiety, and worry by all in all African states. When the result was announced, I was just leaving Ethiopia to come back to Nigeria; come and see the joy in the people of Africa at that meeting.
“So, that was the sort of things I will really say we should have so that we can have a peaceful election that is credible, peaceful, and people should accept the results of the election for the sake of Nigeria. Where things go wrong, try to improve for the next time. It is my hope and fear that things will go well. I hope all of you will play your parts to ensure peaceful election. If you make your own contributions that way, then we will be well.”(Daily Trust)
