THE Chairman of Global Intelligentsia for Buhari, Chief Tola Adeniyi has applauded President Goodluck Jonathan for his ‘statesmanlike’ action of accepting defeat at the 2015 elections and congratulating his opponent, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) even before election results were announced.

He said the singular act made President Jonathan, not Jega or Buhari, the man of the moment. In the same vein, a socio-political group, Coalition of Patriots (CP) has hailed Jonathan and said his action had gone a long way to ensure post-election peace being enjoyed in the country, adding that posterity would remember him for his moral rectitude and courage as a fine statesman.

The group also called on professional bodies in the critical sectors of the nation’s economy and other well-meaning Nigerians to pull ideas together with a view to setting agenda for the incoming government for a better Nigeria.

In an interview with The Guardian at his Lagos home, Adeniyi said Jonathan’s congratulatory phone call to Buhari and his acceptance of defeat were acts of magnanimity which would be on record as the real character traits of the real Jonathan.

“Many pundits have averred that, left to Jonathan he would have left the stage much earlier but for the wolves and vultures who were milking Nigeria dry at the expense of Jonathan’s good name,” he said, referring to President Jonathan’s retinue of advisers.

He blamed the “fraudulent” postponement of elections slated for February 14 on    “those who genuinely did not wish Jonathan well.” The postponement, though controversial was considered necessary by the Federal Government in gaining time to fight the Boko Haram insurgents in the Northeastern Nigeria.

In spite of the delay, Adeniyi said President Jonathan has demonstrated heroic gestures. His words, “Just imagine for a moment if Jonathan had declared that he rejected the entire elections processes and refused to accept the results of the elections.

Imagine what would have been the immediate response in the entire regions where Buhari virtually scored block votes! Imagine the spontaneous reaction from the regions where Jonathan recorded block votes. Imagine the fate of Nigeria. Cast your mind back to July 1966.

April-May 1967,and quickly flash your mind on Ondo state of post 1983 elections.” He said the President sprung a surprise on Nigerians by doing what many thought he could not do. “Dr. Jonathan fooled all of us by appearing to be ignorant of history.

How wrong were all Nigerians in their estimation of Jonathan’s character. It is now very clear that what hampered Jonathan all these years were the cruel political and leadership culture that are very peculiar to Nigeria.”

He said historians might be kind to Jonathan “for dousing a fire that would have consumed Nigeria.” Adeniyi set up Global Intelligentsia for Buhari, “to promote efforts for the rescue of Nigeria”.

The group consists of renowned scholars, public intellectuals, and renowned political pundits based in Europe, Asia, Canada, the US, and all over the globe. The group expressed confidence in Buhari’s leadership quality and ability to put together a formidable team of technocrats who will work with him to ensure that the desired change becomes a reality.

According to Ifesanmi Ajiwoye, the Coordinator of the CP, in a statement issued yesterday in Akure, the era of politicians taking the electorate for granted has gone forever.

The coalition, felicitated with Buhari on his election and described the victory of the former military ruler in the presidential election as an answer to earnest prayers of the Nigerian people.

The statement reads: “The people of this country prayed to God for a change of government at the centre. God has now answered their prayers through the election of Gen. Mohammadu Buhari(rtd).

“The President-elect must, therefore, justify people’s confidence in him by striving to fulfil his promises to them. It is by fulfilling the promises that the change of government will have meaning to them.

“Fundamental issues affecting the country such as insecurity, corruption, unemployment and poor electric power supply should be given prompt attention.

The political consciousness of the people is now high and they will no longer vote for those who cannot add value to their lives.”