- Senator Marafa urges Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi to set aside differences and support President Tinubu after his Supreme Court victory
- He emphasizes the need for unity and cooperation to address the pressing challenges facing the nation, including subsidy removal and economic fluctuations
Senator Kabiru Marafa, a prominent figure in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from Zamfara State, has called upon the two main presidential candidates in the 2023 general elections, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Mr. Peter Obi, to set aside their differences and support the victor, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He made this appeal following President Tinubu’s Supreme Court victory, which upheld his victory in the 2023 Presidential Election.
Senator Marafa shared his perspective with reporters at the State House after a private meeting with President Tinubu in Abuja. He stressed the urgency of these political leaders coming together to address the current challenges facing the nation.
The Supreme Court recently dismissed the appeals by Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), affirming President Tinubu’s victory.
Senator Marafa, who served as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum Downstream, highlighted the pressing issues faced by Nigerians, particularly in the wake of the subsidy removal on petrol and the fluctuating exchange rate of the dollar.
He urged the former presidential candidates to recognize that they have exhausted their legal rights to challenge the election results and now need to focus on the welfare of the masses.
In response to a question about the individuals who took the president to court, Senator Marafa conveyed his wish for them to put their differences aside and join forces with President Tinubu to move the nation forward, given the challenges across the country.
He drew from his own experience, noting that when he lost an election, he congratulated the winner and pledged to cooperate with the elected representative to improve his region.
Regarding the possibility of President Tinubu forming a national unity government, Senator Marafa emphasized that this decision lies with the president himself. He suggested that the behaviour of the opposition since the Supreme Court verdict would influence the president’s actions.
Marafa expressed his hope that the opposition would accept the court’s judgment with open hearts and extend a hand of friendship to President Tinubu. He stressed the importance of unity and cooperation in governance, particularly in a complex and diverse country like Nigeria.
He also shared that his visit to President Tinubu was not only to offer prayers and receive blessings but also to discuss the political landscape in Zamfara State, providing insights into its history and the role President Tinubu played in it. Senator Marafa advocated for political patronage and recognition of the APC’s contributions to the state’s political success.