Former women affairs minister Pauline Tallen says the affirmation of President Bola Tinubu’s victory by the presidential election petitions tribunal indicates his emergence is divine, urging Atiku Abubakar (of PDP) and Peter Obi (of Labour Party) to accept defeat.

Ms Tallen, a former Plateau deputy governor and a one-time state minister for science and technology, said this on Wednesday in Abuja.

“The emergence of Tinubu as Nigeria’s president is a God project for the nation’s unity and stability. Recall the issues that preceded his election, like the controversial naira redesign, the vicious campaign of calumny, among others, which would have truncated his ambition. But somehow, in spite of all these odds against him during the campaign, he still emerged as the winner,” stated Ms Tallen.

The ex-minister added, “This is a confirmation that leadership comes from God, and when God designs it, nobody can stop it.”

Ms Tallen called on Messrs Abubakar and Obi to accept the court’s verdict and join hands with Mr Tinubu to build Nigeria.

“Tinubu is imbued with a rare commitment to political inclusiveness. From his recent ministerial appointment, it is obvious that they were not strictly for APC members,” said Ms Tallen. “In any contest, there is bound to be a winner and a loser; it is okay that they challenged the election’s outcome in court, which is within their constitutional rights, but Tinubu is now reconfirmed by the tribunal as president.”

The APC chieftain stressed that “in the interest of Nigeria, if we all love Nigeria and we all plan to serve and build this country to an enviable height, we should all join hands and build a nation of our collective dreams.”

She added, “They have their ideas, but Tinubu also has his ideas. If we all put these ideas together on the table and work with him, I believe we will all be better off for it.”

Ms Tallen also urged those insinuating that the tribunal’s judgment was manipulated to jettison the idea and accept the court’s ruling as a victory for Nigeria’s constitutional democracy and the rule of law.

“Everyone is entitled to their beliefs; the opposition, especially, has the right to think the way they do, but as I said earlier, for national interest and Nigeria’s unity, we should accept the court’s verdict,” said Ms Tallen.

(NAN)