Muhammadu Buhari on Friday relieved how the Federal Executive Council, FEC meeting saved him from trauma of the judgement of the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal.
The judgement had coincided with the first weekly meeting of FEC, which the President presided over and which had almost all the Ministers in attendance
The President, addressing the All Progressives Congress Governors Forum and the National Working Committee of the ruling party led by its national Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole who paid him a congratulatory message at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said the presence of the Ministers through out the over eight hour judgement, provided relief for him
The Tribunal had on Wednesday dismissed the petition of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and its candidate Atiku Abubakar in the February 23 elections, during the judgement
But the President’s statement however contradicts earlier one by his Media aides that the President was not perturbed by the case, a position that was later corroborated by the party’s National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole who also stated that the “APC was not perturbed by the PDP’s petition, saying “For us in the party, we never had doubts you won your votes.”
But the President in his remarks at the meeting said the Federal Executive Council meeting which he presided over “reduced the tension” he would have passed through as the judgement lasted.
According to him, “On this judgement, again it was a fabulous coincidence that it came almost the same time the first Federal Executive Council meeting of this government was taking place. It lasted about the same time with the judgement.
” I thank God for that because I think I would have gone into trauma or something. So I was busy trying to concentrate on the memo. The first memo was on the budget and it took more than five hours.
” So, while you were doing your thing for nine hours, we were doing ours for about seven hours here. It is a very interesting coincidence and I thank God for it because I would have been in trauma or something of that sort.
“So thank very much for sharing the glory with us. What I will say to your congratulations, the chairman of the party and the governors is that we make sure that we really institutionalized the party, so that when we leave the stage the party will continue to lead.”
Speaking earlier, Oshiomhole said,” On behalf of the National Working Committee congratulate you on the outcome of the judgement that was delivered two days ago (Wednesday) at the Court of Appeal.
“We never had doubts that you won your votes. All the issues raised by our opponents were trashed out one after the other by the Justices that sat on the panel.
“But of particular interest to us Mr. President as members of the Progressive family is that we are all aware that the only asset Mr. President has invested and continues to invest in your political journey and your political project is your integrity.”
He said that the PDP has no one in their midst that attained various commanding position in public service and came out unstained.
On his part, Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum and Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bagudu said the judgement has silenced Buhari’s critics.
He said: “We are here to celebrate your victory and that of our party at the tribunal. I say big congrats to you.
“We don’t know how it happened, but it was televised live for Nigerians to see for transparency. It silenced all doubts. We never doubted your positions and now the law has affirmed it too.
“It was noteworthy that you were not even distracted as you chaired the FEC on day of judgement.”
He commended Buhari’s Social investments programmes on rail, infrastructure, social investment all taking place under his administration.
The Governors at the visit were Simon Lalong of Plateau State who also is Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State, Mohammed Inuwa of Gombe, Abdulrazak Abdulrahman of Kwara State, Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, Babagana Zulum of Borno State, Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa State, among others.
Also at the meeting were Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari and presidential aides.
Tony Ailemen, Abuja
