President-elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has vowed to make Nigeria great, just as he urged his fellow contestants to join him in building a more prosperous nation.
Tinubu, flanked by his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, spoke Wednesday moments after receiving the Certificate of Return from the Chairman Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Professor Mahmood Yakubu, in Abuja.
At the brief but historic ceremony were Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, Speaker House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila, Secretary to the Government of the Federation Boss Mustapha, former Ekiti state Governor John Kayode Fayemi, and a mammoth crowd of party supporters.
Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, was declared winner of the presidential election early Wednesday morning having won in 12 states and polling a total of 8, 794, 726.
His closest challenger and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also won 12 states with 6,984,520, while the second runner-up and standard bearer of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi won in 11 states including FCT, with 6,101,533 votes.
And the candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso won one state, polling a total of 1, 496, 687 votes.
The lifelong ambition
With the INEC’s Certificate of Return, Tinubu has realised what he called “a lifelong ambition.”
Early in the Year 2022, the former Lagos state governor was in the Presidential Villa to brief President Muhammadu Buhari of his ambition to succeed him.
And speaking to journalists shortly after the visit on the president’s response to his ambition, Tinubu had said: “That’s our business. He is a democrat. He didn’t ask me to stop. He didn’t ask me not to attempt and pursue my ambition, it is a lifelong ambition.
“So, why do I expect him to say more than that? You are running a democratic dispensation, and you must adopt the principles and the values and the virtues of democracy. That’s it.”
Vow to Nigerians
Addressing journalists after receiving the CoR, President-elect Tinubu vowed to do everything possible to make Nigeria better, even as he told fellow competitors that his heart and doors were open for them.
He appealed for team-work, saying that with togetherness Nigeria will be great again.
“To you the people, especially the youths, I will work day and night. I will work to the utmost of my ability to make Nigeria better.
“For this to be a victory at all, it cannot simply be a victory for one man or even one party. It must become a victory for all Nigerians who are committed to a greater society.
“To those who did not support me, I ask that you do not allow the disappointment of this moment to keep you from realising the historic national progress we can make by joining hands and hearts in common endeavour to pull this nation through,” Tinubu further said.
Acceptance speech
Earlier in his acceptance speech, the president-elect said: “My fellow Nigerians, I am profoundly humbled that you have elected me to serve as the 16th president of our beloved Republic. This is a shining moment in the life of any man and affirmation of our democratic existence. From my heart, I say thank you.
“Whether you are Batified, Atikulated, Obidient, Kwankwasiyya, or have any other political affiliation, you voted for a better, more hopeful nation and I thank you for your participation and dedication to our democracy. You decided to place your trust in the democratic vision of a Nigeria founded on shared prosperity and one nurtured by the ideals of unity, justice, peace and tolerance. Renewed hope has dawned in Nigeria.
“We commend INEC for running a free and fair election. The lapses that did occur were relatively few in number and were immaterial to the final outcome. With each cycle of elections, we steadily perfect this process so vital to our democratic life.
“Today, Nigeria stands tall as the giant of Africa. It shines even brighter as the Continent’s biggest democracy. I thank all who supported my campaign. From President Buhari who adeptly led my campaign as its chairman, to my Vice Presidential Candidate, Senator Kashim Shettima. To the progressive governors of our party and this nation, to the party leadership, to our loyal party members. I owe you a debt of gratitude. To the entire campaign organization, I thank you sincerely.
“I thank my loving wife and dear family whose support was ceaseless and inspiring. Without you, this victory would not be possible.
“I am grateful to Almighty God. By His mercy, I was born a son of Nigeria and through His sublime purpose I find myself the victor of this election. May He grant me the wisdom and courage to lead the nation to the greatness He alone has destined for it.
“Finally, I thank the Nigerian people for their abiding belief in our democracy. I shall be a fair leader to all Nigerians. I will be in tune with your aspirations, charge up your energies and harness your talents to deliver a nation that we can be proud of.”
He further said: “To my fellow candidates, former VP Atiku, former Governor Kwankwaso, former Governor Obi and all others, I extend the hand of friendship. This was a competitive, high-spirited campaign. You have my utmost respect. Political competition must now give way to political conciliation and inclusive governance.
“During the election, you may have been my opponent but you were never my enemy. In my heart, you are my brothers. Still, I know some candidates will be hard put to accept the election results. It is your right to seek legal recourse. What is neither right nor defensible is for anybody to resort to violence. Any challenge to the electoral outcome should be made in a court of law, and not in the streets.
“I also ask my supporters to let peace reign and tensions fade. We ran a principled, peaceful and progressive campaign. The aftermath of our campaign must be as benign. Yes, there are divisions amongst us that should not exist. Many people are uncertain, angry and hurt; I reach out to every one of you. Let the better aspects of our humanity step forward at this fateful moment. Let us begin to heal and bring calm to our nation.”
Message to the youth
And to the youth, Tinubu said: “Now, to you, the young people of this country, I hear you loud and clear. I understand your pains, your yearnings for good governance, a functional economy and a safe nation that protects you and your future.
“I am aware that for many of you Nigeria has become a place of abiding challenges limiting your ability to see a bright future for yourselves.
“Remodeling our precious national home requires the harmonious efforts of all of us, especially the youth. Working together, we shall move this nation as never before.
“My running mate, Vice President-elect Shettima and I understand the challenges ahead. More importantly, we also understand and deeply value the talent and innate goodness of you, the Nigerian people. We pledge to listen and to do the difficult things, the big deeds that put us on the path of irreversible progress. Hold us firmly to account, but please give us a chance first.
“Together, we shall build a brighter and more productive society for today, tomorrow and for years to come. Today, you have given me the greatest honor you can bestow on one man.
“In return, I will give you my utmost as your next president and commander-in-chief. Peace, unity and prosperity shall be the cornerstones of the society we intend to build. When you gaze upon what we shall accomplish in the coming years, you shall speak with pride at being a Nigerian.”
Obi and I – Datti
And in a reaction, the LP vice presidential candidate, Dr Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, assured Nigerians, especially party faithful that he and Obi were prepared to pursue and retrieve their mandate through the legal system.
Speaking to journalists Wednesday in Abuja, Baba-Ahmed said: “We ask Nigerians to continue to exercise their civic duties. Democracy belongs to the people who can practice it. Nigeria should continue to make effort to practice it.
“The only language we understand is peace. Obi and I believe even more in Nigeria and Nigerian people. We won the election in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, but they refused to upload the result, they refused to refer to IREV just for them to defeat us.
“It took serving government illegality and constitutional breach to defeat Peter Obi and my humble self.
“Nigerian people are winners and Nigerian people are waiting for a day when Peter Obi and myself, through the rigours of legality and constitutionality will get to power somehow, one day.”
On whether they would challenge INEC’s decision in court, he said: “Irrespective of the low level of confidence we have in the system, your responsibility is your responsibility.
“Nigerians contested for the 2023 Presidential election through Peter Obi and my humble self, we shall continue to keep the struggle alive irrespective of the low confidence level we have in the judiciary.
“We had extremely low confidence in the promise of the government concerning the election yet we went ahead with the election. So it doesn’t matter how low the confidence level we have in the judiciary but the law is the law.
“But there is a confidence we have in ourselves. The confidence we have in ourselves is that the election so to say, did not hold because, from the polling unit, the electoral act 2007 as amended provided the direct transmission of results.
“It is that direct transmission that shows that elections were held and they were not transmitted. So if there were no results, what election are you talking about?
“Going to the ward collation units, no INEC officer shall make entries without him or her making reference to the existing ongoing concurrent IREV which did not exist. So, how did they collate?
“If there is no valid collation, what result are you talking about, if there are no results what elections are you talking about.
“Illegality has been performed and as far as we are concerned, here is an incoming government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that is illegal and unconstitutional and we are submitting our case to the court of law and it is for them irrespective of the level of confidence of Nigerians or Africans have in them. It is for them to shore up that level of confidence.”
Buhari to Atiku, others
Meanwhile,President Buhari has congratulated the president-elect and urged the candidates who lost out in the contest as well as their supporters to take their grievances to court and not to the streets
In a statement Wednesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, the president said: “I congratulate His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his victory. Elected by the people, he is the best person for the job. I shall now work with him and his team to ensure an orderly handover of power.
“The election was Africa’s largest democratic exercise. In a region that has undergone backsliding and military coups in recent years, this election demonstrates democracy’s continued relevance and capability to deliver for the people it serves.
“Within Nigeria, the results reveal democracy is ripening in our country. Never has the electoral map shifted so drastically in one cycle. In the presidential elections, states in all regions across the nation changed colour. Some amongst you may have noticed my home state amongst them.
“The winning candidate did not carry his own home state either. That happens during a competitive election. Votes and those that cast them cannot be taken for granted. Each must be earned. Competition is good for our democracy. There is no doubt the people’s decision has been rendered in the results we look at today.
“That is not to say the exercise was without fault. For instance, there were technical problems with electronic transmission of the results. Of course, there will be areas that need work to bring further transparency and credibility to the voting procedure.
“However, none of the issues registered represent a challenge to the freeness and fairness of the elections.
“I know some politicians and candidates may not agree with this view. That too is fine. If any candidate believes they can prove the fraud they claim is committed against them, then bring forward the evidence. If they cannot, then we must conclude that the election was indeed the people’s will – no matter how hard that may be for the losers to accept. If they feel the need to challenge, please take it to the courts, not to the streets.
“However, to do the latter means they are not doing it in the interest of the people, but rather to inflame, to put people in harm’s way and all for personal, selfish gains.
“After a degree of polarization that necessarily accompanies any election, it is now time to come together and act responsibly. I call on all candidates to remember the peace pledge they signed just days before the election. Do not undermine the credibility of INEC. Let us now move forward as one. The people have spoken.”