After the verdict from the Presidential Election Petition Court on Wednesday, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar has been reduced to a punchline.

Speaking shortly after the 5-member panel of justices of the court led by Justice Haruna Tsammani delivered judgment affirming Tinubu’s election as president, the vice-President, Kashim Shettima said, “Atiku Abubakar is an elder statesman that I hold in very high esteem, and anybody who knows the social-cultural interaction between the Fulanis and the Kanuris in the North will know that I have the liberty to haul all insults at him, and he will bear.”

On whether the judgement will retire Atiku politically, Shettima said” We are not going to retire him to Dubai or Morroco, I will retire him to Fombina, I will buy him goats, broilers and layers so that he can spend his days rearing goats and broilers, but on a joking side.

“On a more serious note, he is an elder statesman, the nation needs him, experience is not something that you can buy in the market place. We will tap into his wealth of experience and exposure to catapult the nation to a higher level,” he noted.

Speaking further he said, “My principal, President Bola Tinubu is eternally indebted to the Nigerian people and to the leadership of the party who have been here since 9 a.m.

“Our energetic chairman and national secretary of the party, members of the national assembly, ministers they have all been here.

“One cannot adequately convey our debt of gratitude to the Nigerian people, my principal will issue a formal statement but we felt compelled to talk to you having spent nearly 14 to 15 hours in this chambers.

”There is dignity of every person that we need to honour and cherish. We want to thank you; the journey is just beginning and we want to call on Nigerians, let us unite,” Vice-President stated.

“Today is a great day for Nigeria. The Nigerian judiciary has proved itself to be the guardian of justice and fairness against the sirens of deception.

” I“t is a battle between the will of the people and the forces of misinformation and disinformation, but democracy has finally triumphed like the bird phoenix, It rises from the ashes resolute and unhindered and in this age of information discernment is our greatest armor and unity is our strongest hold.

“Remember, in this battle for the survival of the nation, in this grand symphony of democracy, your voice, your vote is the note that cannot be silenced but even in this moment of triumph, we are not going to tamper, we will work for the unity of this nation,” Mr Shettima said.