Former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, has apologised to Nigerians, especially the youths, for his actions at the INEC collation centre in Abuja on Tuesday morning.
Orubebe had disrupted proceedings at the International Conference Centre on Tuesday when he accused INEC Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega of being partisan and favouring the All Progressives Congress, APC.
He claimed Jega failed to accept the petition written to him by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, but collected and worked on that of the APC, which was on the elections in Rivers State.
Addressing newsmen on Tuesday, the former Minister said he allowed emotions take over him, noting that he should not have acted the way he did in the full glare of the world, who were watching his show of shame.
Orubebe said, “I was unnecessarily pushed by Jega to get to that level and I did make that statement,” stressing that, “Election is a passionate thing and I really regretted what took place this morning.”
“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 apologize to Nigerians and to the youths of this country,” said a sober Orubebe.
He commended President Goodluck Jonathan for conceding to Buhari and giving him a call to congratulate him on his victory at the poll.
“Two things are in place. The president is the president of everybody, whether he contested with Buhari or not. He has seen the results displayed everywhere and it is only one that is remaining and he has also seen that even if he wins that one the figures as presented by INEC keeps Buhari on. ead. As a statesman and as a president he has done what he should do.”
