Sentor Kabiru Marafa has asked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and his Labour Party (LP) counterpart, Peter Obi, to join hands with president Bola Tinubu to build Nigeria, following the Supreme Court Judgement which affirmed the President’s victory in the 2023 presidential election.
Marafa who made the call, while speaking to State House correspondents, after a private visit to the President, sated that he wished both of them would put away their differences and support President Tinubu to work for the progress of the nation, especially with the problem confronting the nation.
“So, we need all hands on deck now. It is over. They have done what they are supposed to have done. The constitution gives them inherent rights to challenge the victory. But with the verdict of the apex court, the battle is over.
“Like the president said, he is going to concentrate on his job without giving anybody any opportunity to distract him. So, on their part, I wish they would join hands with Mr. President to move the country forward.
“When I lost the election, I congratulated the person who defeated me. I also promised that the best thing that I can give the people of Zamfara Central is to cooperate with whoever they choose to be their Senator to move the zone forward. Because they elected me twice and I won convincingly in the two elections.
“if now somebody says I lost, I think I should accept the fact that in any game, there are winners and there are losers. Yesterday, I was the winner and today, I lost. I should accept it and move forward, tomorrow is another day.
“I expect also at national level for our elders to do the same. They have exhausted their rights. So, it is over. Let us now move to building Nigeria. Let us now look at the plight of the masses.
“You know things are very difficult and hard, which is occasioned by the removal of subsidy which is a must. I was the Chairman of the Senate Committee of the Petroleum Downstream. So, I know what is happening in the area. Also, the rate of the dollar is adding to the difficulties in the country”, Marafa sad.
Stressing that governance requires unity and peaceful coexistence to thrive, especially in a complex country like Nigeria, Marafa was of the view that President Tinubu will be willing to work with the duo in the opposition if they accept the judgement with open hearts and extend a hand of friendship to the President, adding that Tinubu would want to work with everybody.
According to Marafa he also solicited the support of the Federal Government over the challenge of insecurity and humanitarian crises in Zamfara state.
Marafa said “Zamfara insecurity, especially in the area of the huge humanitarian crisis we have in the state which a lot of Nigerians don’t know because successive governments in the state tried not to bring the issue to the front burner. Because for whatever reason, they think bringing the issue to the front burner is like an indictment to them or a failure on their part.
“Whereas to me, I think bringing it out and letting everybody know what we are going through will bring key solutions to the problem”.
