Nigeria’s president, Muhammadu Buhari, has said Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar and other key opposition figures as victims of over confidence.
However, many Nigerians accused Mr. president statement as working had to rig the election in the favor of his party.
Although the president did not mention their names specifically, he said while the All Progressives Congress (APC) was working hard to retain power, the combined opposition was basking in over confidence.
Atiku, who contested the presidential election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) came second, while Obi of Labour Party came third.
Speaking at his residence in the State House, Abuja, where he received the Progressive Governors Forum led by their chairman, Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, Buhari said: “They were already telling their foreign backers that they would defeat the APC. Our Party blended confidence with caution, we worked hard and won. Now, their over confidence is creating more problems for the opposition than anyone else.
“They are finding it hard to convince those who supported them from outside why they are unable to beat us. A combination of over confidence, complacency and bad tactical moves made them lose, plain and clear. This has created more problems in their camp. Why did they fail to remove us?”
Speaking in response to an issue raised by Governor Bagudu, President Buhari said, “An important reason I congratulate Asiwaju on winning is because the opposition got support and false hope from outside and went on to create the impression that they will win, that they will defeat us. How more wrong could anyone be?” he asked.
The President, in a statement by his media aide, Malam Garba Shehu, charged the APC governors to stick together and openly address issues among themselves.
“Try and keep solving problems. Be courageous to discuss them openly between yourselves. This is the best way to survive politically in Nigeria,” said the president, urging that “you (Governors) have a programme to meet regularly and to discuss issues and how to maintain the Party nationwide.”
President Buhari, spoke at length about his retirement proposal, said that he intended to be at home in Daura for six months before moving eventually to Kaduna.
He thanked Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State for the infrastructure he had provided that would make life for his retirement and that of the people of the state much better, adding that the Governor of Kano had equally done the same.
