If Seriake Dickson the Governor of Bayelsa State is expecting a congratulatory message from President Muhammadu Buhari over his recent re-election for a second term of office, he had better forget it.
Lai Mohammed, Nigeria’s minister of information and culture told journalists in Abuja on Monday that the President would not follow the habit of his predecessor who was of the habit of sending congratulatory messages to winners of elections regardless of party affiliation immediately after announcement of results.
Governor Dickson of Peoples Democratic Party was recently re-elected for a second term in an election that was marred by violence. He defeated Timipre Slyva of All Progressives Congress, APC, the party of President Buhari.
There have been calls, especially from Senator Ben Bruce, a Bayelsa State PDP Senator and other members of the party that President Buhari should toe the path of former president, Goodluck Jonathan who issued statements to congratulate members of the opposition party who won governorship election during his tenure.
But Mohammed told journalists that President Buhari sees such congratulatory messages as unnecessary interference in elections or their outcomes which he will not engage in.
“This President is not in the business of interfering and intervening in elections,” the Minister said.
He also noted that the President never sent any congratulatory message to the APC candidate who was also victorious in Kogi State gubernatorial election.
“What of if he sent a congratulatory message and they go to court and the election is overturned, will he call back the congratulatory message? “This President believes that the presidency should be insulated from the conduct of elections and their outcomes,” Mohammed added.
He also dismissed rumours circulating on the social media that President Buhari will soon embark of 91 days medical leave.
The Minister, who said if Buhari is going to go on leave at all, he is not going to hide it, described the rumour as part of campaign of calumny against the President. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Nonsense
ReplyDeleteLiar Mohammad as old as you are you talk likenan intact why? He will congrats APC Winner
ReplyDeleteEnter your comment...did lie mohamed sef..always so kantacarous..old man wit evil ambiton..mtcheew
ReplyDeleteThen lie m u will say u are running a democracy selfish individuals.
ReplyDeleteNo one needs his congratulatory message. Congratulation is a word that does not exist in Buhari's dictionary even when he losts in an election.
ReplyDeleteNot a virtue though
I have not seen it in any part of Nigeria constitution that the president has to congratulate any election winner. PMB did not congratulate Kogi Governor elect, why should he congratulate Dickson? This is a trivial issue that should be forgotten.
ReplyDeleteAll posts so far - stupid and make no sense. It is only in Nigeria that criminals get rewarded and congratulated for wrong doings. Only in Nigeria that you will look and your people and relations will congratulate you. Congrats my foot!!!
ReplyDeleteApc should be congratulated for winning the presidential elections?
DeleteGEJ was the first to congratulate buhari...think b4 u talk
DeleteSome of you lacked common sense so you are lost to the point being made. If Buhari congratulated Mama Tarawa after her court victory what will happen after lost at the Supreme Court?
ReplyDeleteNa wah o. Na so something dey pain people? No to political Presidential congratulatory message. If you win, so be it and if you lose, its up to you. What business does the Presidency has with outcome of any election for that matter? A beg PMB, ignore tax.
ReplyDeleteWho cares, try and blackmail another judge see if you get an annulment. Old fools.
ReplyDeleteWhere did you all come from? What did this man do to receive all the comments above. Na wa o
ReplyDeleteI read all the comments here and i feel sorry for the kind of literate pipl we have in this country!! You wanna criticize Buhari n u can even construct a good clear tense ?? U will also deliberately refuse to see the sense in someone's argument!! The man made a valid point that the president would not interfere or intervene in election matters, especially one being challenged in d court of law .. Buhari is not Jonathan so try and understand that !! He cannot act as such and please try and edit ur English when u wanna criticize !! Gosh !!!
ReplyDeleteYou have a president who can not speak English
DeleteYou want to criticise buhari and you 'can construct clear tense'...you misplaced can with can't...yeye English teacher, meanwhile are tenses constructed?..na road?..my frnd go back to sch
DeleteOnye Nkuzi try read your rubbish first b4 posting it if you want to insult pple, do it right.
DeleteI thought I was the only one seeing this congratulatory messages from this perspective. I have always believe that in the light of our experience, congratulatory messages on electoral victories, if at all, should come after all cases on the elections are concluded and finalised at the highest court of petition n respect of each election. Or what is the point of congratulating somebody now and congratulating someone else on the same election later.
ReplyDeleteI put it Mr. Lai Mohammed: if a child is born and people sent congratulatory messages to the parents and the same child died after one month of birth, will the people retrieve their congratulations?
ReplyDeleteMr Lai should think deeply before he releases his usual mischief statements. The issue is that Nigeria belongs to all irrespective of political affiliation. It is bad if our leaders are ruling this nation with bitterness of hearts. What is big deal in congratulating the opponent? It is the best thing because it helps in bridging bridges of love. Let our leaders behave Godly and emulate Jesus Christ. I pray all our leaders are BORN AGAIN CHRISTIANs. Oba nkiiii yinnnn oooooo
@Olatunji Badmus, I think you need to understand this platform is not soley for the well educated.
ReplyDeleteTry and be construct when you are referring to peolple who are only expressing their feelings and thoughts towards the subject . You are only priviledged to be what you are claiming to be today. Stop the insults !
Lai Mohammed has many things to bother himself rather than defending PMB on the congratulations issue. I think he is not doing his job as good as we thought he should. I think he is better as an opposition speaker.
Buhari is bitter that despite all his intimidation of the bayelsa electorate, the will of the people still triumphed. He should go and sulk and cry. His congratulatory message is not needed. He will also lose rivers and akwa Ibom and he won't get his hands on the oil wealth of the Niger delta. He should make do with kilishi from the north.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree...
DeleteCongratulations to a Gen wtout WAEC who made Niga Ungovetnable and who today is winning War against BH which he Installed......Dat Dickson won is a bitter pill to swallow and a big Shame to PMB and Apc as for me and my Family A Big Congratulations to All Bayelsans and The Hero Gov. Seriake Dickson
Deletebut lai and co were happy when goodluck congratulated buhari.
ReplyDelete@ badmus. where were you when APC people criticised jonathan every steps even when it made since?
ReplyDeleteNonsense comments from foolish peoples....oya mumu Nigerian star your commets
ReplyDeleteSo he doesn't even trust his electoral process?....If after elections the electoral process says Mr. A won, you congratulate him, it is symbolic. If after going to the court, Mr. B won, you congratulate him, it is also symbolic. Sending congratulations doesn't make you less accurate or dumb but is just a symbol of peace and neutrality. this government is obviously bitter and clueless...and this is from a neutral person.
ReplyDeleteI laugh this wicked and enemy of progress government
ReplyDeleteHow can who is crying in aso rock congratulate another party for winning..Buhari is no Democrate, he s not even educated, so he can't even sound civil
ReplyDeleteIs Ok by me it tells de world how Illitrate is Lai Mhmd and his Oga PMB infact dat felicitations is not neccessary because Apc is completely sectional Hw many APC election has been cancelled....How on earth will you beleive dat all election in de north were free and fair 75% of people in ApC ar those who
Deletestole in PDP to escape probe dey decamp and PMB knows yet dey ar de good people of Nigeria today NONSENSE ........
Fellow Nigerian Mr. President has failed the litmus test if he did not congratulate Governor Dickson. However, no one needs his congratulation because River and Bayelsa State Citizen will never rally round the APC. The only way APC can win is to ensure there is no election in Rivers State and Bayelsa State. And APC members will vote on behalf of everyone. That can only happen if we have returned back to our vomit (Kangaroo Government or the Banana Repulblic)
ReplyDelete