By Ahmed Idris
President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated winners of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries across the country, urging losers to demonstrate sportsmanship by accepting the outcomes without bitterness or resentment.
“In every competition, someone has to win and someone has to lose, but those who lost should not abandon the party or lose their enthusiasm for the advancement of the party,” the President said.
The President called on politicians to learn from several aspirants like Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos state “who despite his loss didn’t abandon APC for another party because he was angry over the outcome of the gubernatorial primaries.’’
He said the larger interest of APC is greater than individual ambitions, hence the need for party faithful to work together for its success, despite personal losses.
“In politics, we shouldn’t lose hope permanently because tomorrow could present another opportunity for us to contest again and win,” he said.
The President also called on losers of the primaries “to always put the party first because we are in it together to serve the country, and I am always proud of our members who demonstrate sportsmanship and a good party spirit.”
He also enjoined the winners “to show grace in victory instead of mocking the losers, as such action is capable of destroying party unity and cohesion. The tent is large enough for us.”
“Those elected should see their positions as a public trust instead of abusing their mandates to amass personal wealth at the expense of the ordinary voters who voted them into power,” he said.
