President-elect Bola Tinubu said yesterday in Abuja that his certificate of return was not only an attestation of his victory at the February 25 presidential poll, but also a call to duty, which he could not ignore. Tinubu called on all Nigerians, both those who voted for him and those who did not, to join hands with him in a common endeavour to pull the country through its current difficulties.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in last Saturday’s presidential election told his opponents and their supporters that he understood their hurt following emerging from a tight race.
Tinubu spoke after he was presented with the Certificate of Return by Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu.
The former Lagos State governor said he needed the support of his opponents as much as Nigeria needed them. He reiterated his commitment to progress, development, and renewed hope for all Nigerians.
Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, said the outcome of last Saturday’s presidential election was a reflection of the wish of the electorate. Akeredolu claimed the exercise was the freest ever held election in the country.
Elder statesman, Alhaji Tanko YakasaI, urged the presidential candidates of Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart, Atiku Abubakar, to accept the outcome of the presidential election.
But the vice presidential candidate of LP, Datti Baba-Ahmed, hinted that his party would challenge the results of Saturday’s presidential election in court. Baba-Ahmed took a swipe at the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, over claims that the senate did not approve electronic transmission of election results, saying such an “irresponsible person, who won senate election through the back door should not be listened to.”
At the same time, Nigeria Civil Society Coalition, otherwise known as the Situation Room, said the process leading to the declaration of results of last weekend’s presidential and National Assembly elections was neither credible nor transparent.
INEC, in the early hours of yesterday, declared Tinubu winner of the presidential election.
The former Lagos State governor polled a total of 8,794,726 votes to defeat his closest rival, Atiku, who scored 6,984,520 votes, and Obi, who polled 6,101,533 votes. The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, came a distant fourth with a total of 1,496,687 votes.
Addressing the nation after he was handed the certificate of return, Tinubu said the certificate symbolised the country’s collective democratic attainment and even loftier aspirations. He said it also represented the impending transfer of a most sacred duty and trust from one person to another.
The president-elect stated that by taking the return certificate, he assumed a sacred duty he would never ignore, and assured the citizens, especially, the youth, that he would work day and night to his utmost ability to make Nigeria better.
Tinubu said, “As I hold this certificate, this moment is one of celebration and gladness for us. The road has been long. Yet, we walked it. The battle has been hard fought. Yet, we won it. But more importantly, I realise that I am just a servant of a larger purpose. You see, this is more than a document confirming the positive outcome of an election.
“At its most sublime, this certificate also symbolises that each of you has the ability to achieve what others believe is impossible for you to achieve.”
Tinubu said as he stood before Nigerians as president-elect, he was not different from other citizens, adding that if he can do it, others can do even better.
He said, “Our destiny as a people and nation depended on our ability to shed the artificial restrictions of bias and prejudice so that we live fully unto our democratic creed that no one is innately superior or entitled to greater rights and opportunities than any other Nigeria.”
Tinubu also stated, “Very soon, this nation would witness a young person standing before the nation holding this great symbol of democracy and national leadership. We shall see a woman standing before you, holding this certificate as its owner. We shall experience someone from a tribe that many people have tried to dismiss as unqualified for this high office.
“By dint of hard work, determination and unyielding belief in a noble endeavour, you can achieve the best of things.”
He stressed that there were young people listening to him who would one day be the leaders of Nigeria.
Tinubu said for his triumph at the polls to be a victory, it could not simply be a victory for one man or even one party, but it must become a victory for all Nigerians, who were committed to a greater society.
“I know many did not vote for me,” Tinubu said. “And you are disappointed that your candidate is not where I now stand,” he added.
He stressed, “I understand your hurt. To you, I extend the embrace and comfort of one family member to another. This great project called Nigeria beckons to us all. It is bigger and more important than any partisan divide.”
While calling on his supporters to continue to have faith in the mission that had been articulated, he said, “To those who didn’t support me, I ask that you 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 a common endeavour to pull this nation through.
“In a phrase, I am asking you to work with me. I may be the president-elect but I need you. More importantly, Nigeria needs you. My heart and my door are open to you. I ask you to come in so that we may begin the task of rebuilding our national home together, day by day, brick by brick.
“Where there is poverty. Let us create prosperity and jobs. Where there is hunger, let us feed the people, chasing hunger from their midst. Where there is now scarcity, let us rediscover abundance. Where there is brutality, may we replace it with brotherhood.
“Where violence stalks the land, may we establish peace. Where others have erected temples to hatred and bias, may we construct permanent monuments to compassion and abiding affection.”