The Concerned Yoruba Muslim Scholars in Nigeria has commended Nigerians for turning out en mass to exercise their civic duty last Saturday February 25th Presidential and Federal parliamentary elections.
Addressing a news conference in Ibadan, the President General of the Organisation Sheikh Abdurrasheed Mayaleeke whose speech was read by the Secretary General, Professor Olaiya Abideen Olaitan saluted every Nigerian citizens for the courage and endurance for coming out despite several challenges facing the country at this period.
“The peaceful conduct of citizens during the election was unprecedented in the history of recent political process. We are however disturbed at a recent statement credited to the former president Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and some political actors calling for cancellations of the election that INEC has announced winners to the House of representative, the Senate and is getting set to announce the winner of the presidency”.
Sheikh Abdurrasheed Mayaleeke explained that It’s rather unfortunate that such statement is coming from a supposed statesman and participant in the just concluded election. “Could it be because his candidate appears losing at the polls or what?. So, where is the sense of sportsmanship, patriotism, justice and concern for the unity of this country?.”
He therefore called on Nigerian citizens to go about their normal routine lawfully and ignore every call that can unnecessarily heat up the polity.
The President General urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to disregard the irresponsible and diabolic calls irrespective of the quarters it is coming from. He appealed to the INEC to conclude the process of collation of results and announce the winner of the presidential election once the constitutional requirements are satisfied.
The Islamic forum also appealed to the President to arrest and prosecute anyone fanning the embers of de-stabilisation of the country as a matter of duty as the Commander in Chief of the Federal Republic of United and peaceful Nigeria.