Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has described those opposed to the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, challenging the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari in the February 23, 2019 election at the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal as enemies of Nigeria.

Obasanjo said this in a statement he personally signed and made available to newsmen in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, on Saturday.

Dated March 23, 2019, it was titled: “Statement by Olusegun Obasanjo on the judgement of the Osun governorship election petitions tribunal, Dubai.”

Obasanjo said if Buhari had challenged his defeat in three previous presidential contests before his 2015 victory, Abubakar should not be dissuaded from contesting his loss also.

He said: “Nigeria is of age; and if Buhari could go to court three times to seek justice, even without reasonable cause, any Nigerian, who feels denied of justice must feel free to go to court.

“Those who have conceived and are promoting the narrative that if Atiku Abubakar continues to seek legal redress, there will be violence, are evil minds looking for excuse to unleash violence on Nigerians.

“At no time in history has sustainable peace built on theft, injustice, corruption and inequality.

“These merchants of chaos and violence should have no place in any decent society. And they must know that no intimidation or prophecy of violence and doomsday will cow anybody.  Nigeria belongs to Nigerians.

“We will respect as friends those who believe that what is good for their country should be good for Nigeria.

“Yes, we are Africans but we have values that are consistent with international standards.

“Court is part of our democratic process and it must be used when necessary if only to achieve justice, stability, unity and progress for our country.”