1st April, 2015
By Our Reporters
Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has congratulated President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) over his victory in the presidential election conducted last Saturday.
Obasanjo in a letter to the President-elect, stated that his success and victory after three previous unsuccessful attempts, must be great object lessons for him and for all politicians, particularly in Nigeria.
Part of the letter read: “For me, the totality of 2015 elections hold many lessons for our democracy and democratisation process which are both maturing.
“On this occasion, the system has been unnecessarily overheated before and particularly during the campaigns when emphasis was more on trivialities and hate, divisive, undignifying and disrespectful statements and comments rather than on pressing issues requiring attention.”
Obasanjo, who was also democratically elected twice as President of Nigeria, pointed out to the new President-elect that his victory “will be magnanimous to start binding the wounds and bitterness occasioned by the campaign and the evil disciples.
“With so much harm already done to many national institutions, including the military, which proudly nurtured you and me, you will have a lot to do on institution reform, education, healthcare, economy, security, infrastructure, power, youth employment, agribusiness, oil and gas, external affairs, cohesiveness of our nation and ridding our land of corruption. Your varied and wide experience will undoubtedly stand you in good stead.
“I am also sure that there are men and women of goodwill, character and virtue across the board that you can mobilise to join hands with you in the reform, repairs and re-direction that will be imperative to put Nigeria back on the fast lane of good governance, unity, cohesiveness, development and progress.
“Once again, I felicitate with you and wish you well,” Obasanjo submitted.
Former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, on Tuesday said President Goodluck Jonathan lost the presidential election to Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress, APC, because Jonathan failed to meet the yearnings and aaspiration of Nigeria’s citizens
In a congratulatory message titled: “Buhari deserves this victory” and which he personally signed, Babangida said the country had witnessed a downward trend and wanted a leader who would salvage it.
He said Nigerian politicians had a lot of lessons to learn from the election and Buhari’s victory, saying one of this was that an incumbent could be defeated if he did not do well as President.
Apart from this, he said there was a lesson to learn from Buhari’s perseverance after he had lost three previous elections.
“I have just finished watching the proceedings of the declaration of results of the March 28, 2015 elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission and the emergence of my friend, professional colleague and former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari as the President-elect.
“Let me, therefore, formally congratulate General Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress for this well-deserved victory.
“This victory to me conveys two significant statements on our political history and evolution. First; that incumbents can be defeated in any democratic process if the people’s aspirations are not fulfilled. Second, that there is good reward for perseverance and hard work. General Buhari has been very consistent in pursuing his political aspiration. In fact, he reminds me of President Abraham Lincoln of the American fame, who was very dogged in pursuing his political aspiration and enriched the contents of democracy in America.
“General Buhari lives true to his military calling by remaining very consistent, resilient and courageous right from 2003 to date. This enviable feat to me further enriches our democratic process and matures us into the top echelon of nations where democracy has taken firm root. That President Jonathan has indeed conceded defeat and congratulated the President-elect is also cheery news.
“Let me also congratulate other presidential candidates of the other political parties, especially Mr. President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for putting up a good fight in the elections. I wish to also commend the Independent National Electoral Commission, for conducting such a free, fair and transparent election despite all the initial hitches and challenges. The beauty of democracy is that it is an on-going process that gives room for improvement, provides opportunity to make amends, and affords the people the opportunity to make a statement with their ballots during elections.
“With this election and its outcome thus far, Nigeria has once again recorded another milestone in her march through the enviable ladder of democracy. Our leadership role in Africa will further be enhanced by the way and manner we manage the gains of this process. But I trust that the President-elect will live up to the expectations of many Nigerians that crave for change; and lift Nigeria to greater heights. I wish to implore the President-elect to reach out to other contestants in the spirit of one Nigeria, as he settles down for the task of leading this nation in the next four years. Your victory has no doubt broken the barriers of ethnicity and religious inclinations; two sensitive issues that undeservedly dominated the campaigns. I am confident that this victory will usher in a new perspective in our political history and development.
“On behalf of my family, accept from me, our hearty congratulations,” Babangida said.
African Union chief Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma on Wednesday congratulated Muhammadu Buhari for winning Nigeria’s presidential election, praising outgoing leader Goodluck Jonathan for “graciously accepting the results.”
Dlamini-Zuma, in a statement released at the Ethiopian headquarters of the 54-member AU bloc, said the result “demonstrates the maturity of democracy” in Nigeria.
The AU Commission chief added that she hoped the people “will be united in facing the challenges of stability, security and development in their country.”
Former governor of Lagos State and a national leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has described the victory of Buhari as Nigeria’s finest moment in its political history.
“It is a moment when hope is re-born, faith is rekindled and a fresh fire of patriotism is released for the task ahead. I congratulate General Buhari, Nigeria’s President-elect on his hard won victory.
Tinubu who was in Abuja at the APC secretariat commended APC leaders and members for the shift they put in during the preparation and campaign stages.
“I salute our galant party leaders and members for running the long distance to victory. To millions of Nigerians I say this- the APC seeks not power for its sake, but for the purpose of bringing a better life to our people and re-building our country”.
This is also democracy’ s finest moment. Nigerians alive today have witnessed the beginning of an era of change. They made this happen and they are the true celebrants and they are deserving. Together we share this victory. Side by side we would work together to bring our country back.”
Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State,southwest, Nigeria has also congratulated Buhari.
In a statement Tuesday evening by the Senior Special Assistant, SSA to the Governor on Media and Communication, Mrs Olufunmilayo Wakama, the governor described the victory as a demonstration of the Nigerian people’s confidence in General Buhari’s strong leadership qualities.
The statement read in part: “the people have spoken and demonstrated with their votes, their confidence in the ability of the President- elect to pull the nation out of its present economic woes.
“The trajectory of the President-elect, his principles and uprightness are some of the qualities that must have endeared him to the electorate.”
He expressed the hope that Buhari, as the President, will bring about the much anticipated and needed security, economic growth and by extension, development and prosperity to the Nigerian nation.
“I convey my best wishes and look forward to a prosperous and great country under your leadership,” the governor submitted.