PRESIDENTIAL spokesman Dr Doyin Okupe appears to have sheathed his sword after indicating that he respects the mandate given to the president-elect General Mohammed Buhari in last month's presidential election. 

Over the last week, Dr Okupe has kept up his anti-Buhari rhetoric, castigating the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, insisting that he does not have a West African School Certificate (Wasc). Showing no sign of letting go of the election rhetoric, Dr Okupe said he had no regrets for his robust attacks on General Buhari during the campaign.

 He added that he was only doing his job when he was attacking the president-elect and that as a free born Nigerian he stands by all that he has said before and after the election. Dr Okupe also said that all he did was to promote the candidacy of President Jonathan his own candidate in the March 28 presidential election. 

"For four years you guys abused and insulted Goodluck Jonathan and the heavens did not fall. All I did was to reiterate some of the issues I raised during the campaign and all hell is let loose," Dr Okupe added.

 However, in a sign that he is mellowing, Dr Okupe appears to be soft-pedalling. Yesterday, he took to social media outlets to indicate that he respects General Buhari and accepts his mandate as the divine will of God. 

Dr Okupe said: "I have respect for the president-elect General Mohammed Buhari and I also respect his mandate but it was my duty to oppose and criticise him during the elections and I did that to the best of my ability. However it pleased God to give him victory and this we have accepted with equanimity, which is why He is a sovereign God. 

"However, the next few years will be tough as we will regroup by the grace of God and we will form a formidable, credible, boisterous but reasonable and patriotic opposition. I have said it before and I am saying it again." 

Earlier this week, Dr Okupe was reiterating that General Buhari was not an electable leader and did not have his Wasc. He added that he had no regrets for any of the statements he made as APC publicity secretary Lai Mohammed said worse.