Why I didn’t challenge Tinubu’s victory

The presidential candidate of Accord Party in the 2023 general election, Prof. Christopher Imumolen, on Monday, said the party did not go to court to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s victory because of national interest.

He also disagreed with critics who said that the President was appointing people from Yoruba land, saying the appointments were spread across the six geo-political zones of the country.

According to him, even if they lost out in the election, what was most important was that Nigeria should win.

He therefore called on every candidate who contested in the last presidential election, including Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party and Peter Obi of Labour Party to “come together and see how we can make our country better.”

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While emphasising that Obi is not a youth, he said even people that were claiming that they were Obidients and would vote for a younger person know that Peter Obi is not a youth.

Imumolen stated these in an interview with journalists in Abuja during a programme organized by his friends to commemorate his 40th birthday.

He said, “Let us allow the President to work. Let us give him the opportunity to express himself. What we must focus on is that we should have a country that is our desire. For us and the Accord Party, we did not go to court because even if we lose out in the election, what is most important is that Nigeria should win.

“There is no perfect situation anywhere in the world. What every candidate who contested in the last presidential election should do now is to come together and see how we can make our country better.”

Imumolen commended Tinubu for considering appointing youths into key positions in his government.

To him, older persons being appointed by Tinubu “could even be feeling ashamed because they are working among young persons who have achieved a lot in their various careers.”

Imumolen said, “We fought for youth inclusion in governance and that is what President Bola Tinubu is currently doing. I was the only youth in the last presidential election. Even people who were claiming that they were Obidients and would vote for a younger person. They know that Peter Obi is not a youth.

“I was the youngest in that race. What I was trying to drive is that youths have to be included because they carry the creativity, energy, exposure and knowledge to drive our country to the next destination. The youth of this nation are tired of being used and dumped. They are tired of not being included in the political calculation of this country.

“If you see the appointment coming up now, 85 per cent of the appointments were given to the youths. It is very encouraging and I love it. That is what we are fighting for. If that is what we can achieve, believe me, I can feel that I am the President of this country.

“I am so happy with what is happening. It is not about me. I will be okay even if I am not appointed. I disagree with those saying that the President was appointing people from Yoruba land. The appointments are spread across the geopolitical zones.

“They are just speculations every part of the country is included in Tinubu’s administration. When one is in a position he is expected to work with people he could trust. Trust and competence are very important.”