Buhari uses his Easter message to urge all those aggrieved with election results to seek legal redress

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has used his Good Friday Easter address to urge all those aggrieved with the outcome of the recent elections to tone down their rhetoric and stick to using legal options to addressing their grievances.

Nigeria has just concluded her general elections with presidential, gubernatorial, National Assembly and state houses of assemblies polls. Several leading opposition figures who felt the elections were not free and fair, have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to annul them and in many cases, the outcome of the polls is being challenged in court.

Saying that Easter is the triumph of light over darkness, President Buhari used his address today to advice Nigerians to explore legal options in ventilating their grievances over the outcome of the 2023 general elections. He said this year’s Easter is about renewed hope and a glorious future for Nigeria.

President Buhari added: “I join Christians in Nigeria and around the world to celebrate Easter, which commemorates the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, signposting his victory over death. At the heart of Easter is the triumph of light over darkness.

“It is a season that reminds us that the Almighty can turn an unpleasant situation round for good. Recognising that Easter is about renewed hope and a glorious future, I urge all Nigerians to continue to be confident and believe strongly in our country for better seasons ahead.

“As a nation, we have gone through an election that has produced the next set of leaders at the federal and state levels. I commend Nigerians for believing in the process. While I congratulate those that have been elected, I acknowledge that it is the right of those who feel dissatisfied with the outcome to seek redress, so I expect them to wait patiently and allow our legal system to run its course.

“It has been a rare privilege for me to serve as your president since you gave me the first mandate in 2015 and renewed it in 2019. Day after day, I have been guided by the vows I took to keep Nigeria united, prosperous and secure.

“Our successes on security, the economy, infrastructure, new oil frontier basins, landmark legal reforms as well as food sufficiency, among others, were possible because of the support of Nigerians. As we celebrate this season with our families, neighbours and communities, let us do so in love, compassion, kindness, resilience and forgiveness. Happy Easter!”