1st April, 2015
Former Niger Delta Affairs Minister Elder Godsday Orubebe has apologised to Nigerians over the show of shame during the release of results of the presidential election in Abuja yesterday.
A mild drama ensued at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) election result collation centre in Abuja when Orubebe, an agent of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), accused INEC Chairman, Attahiru Jega of compromise.
Orubebe took hold of the microphone at the centre and sat on the stage while criticizing Jega’s handling of the result collation.
A repentant Orubebe said last night that he regretted his action for allowing his emotion to overwhelm him.
He pleaded with Niger Delta youths not to perpetrate violence because of the election of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.
Orubebe, who held up proceedings for about 30 minutes, told reporters in Abuja: “Election is a passionate thing and I really regret what took place during the results collation. I was unnecessarily pushed by Jega to get to that level.
“I want to apologise particularly to young Nigerians that look up to take politics as a career to say that what happened was not intended to cause them any embarrassment.
“To Nigerians generally, I regret my actions as even an elder in the church, and a leader, the young men expected to see a lot from me and I believe that if there was any disappointment they got from me I apologise to Nigerians and to the youths of this country.”
A sober Orubebe asked Niger Delta youths not to take the laws into their hands following the outcome of the Presidential Election.
“We have always talked about peace in this country and remember that when there was crisis in the Niger Delta, I was one of the architects that sacrificed to go to the creeks to tell the militants that we need peace in this country alongside President Goodluck Jonathan.”
On Jonathan’s sportsmanship attitude, he said: “Two things are in place. The president is the president of everybody. As a statesman and as a president; he has done what he should do.”
On how the PDP will take the defeat, Orubebe said: “I cannot decide for the PDP. It is a large family. We were sent on an errand to come back to report. We will go and report to the party and the party will take the necessary action it has to take.
“You remember what happened in Ekiti’s governorship election when the governor congratulated his opponent and the party went back and said this is what they have seen. The candidate is not the party, he is a candidate and he has acted very well as a statesman, and as the president, the father of all. For us, we are agents sent to be here to see what transpired here and give report to them.”