The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), has congratulated the victor of the 2023 presidential election and candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a statement released on Wednesday by his spokeswoman, Garba Shehu, Buhari expressed his reaction to Tinubu’s victory.
“His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I congratulate you on your triumph. He was chosen by the public and is the most qualified candidate. I will now cooperate with him and his group to facilitate a smooth transfer of authority.
Africa’s largest democratic exercise was the election. This election shows democracy’s ongoing relevance and capacity to serve the needs of its constituents in a region that has recently experienced backsliding and military coups.
The outcomes in Nigeria show that democracy is maturing there. Never in one cycle has the electoral landscape changed so significantly. States around the country changed color during the presidential elections. Some of you may have noted that one of them is my home state.
The victorious candidate did not even win his state of residence. It takes place amid a heated election. Votes cannot be taken for granted, nor can the people who voted for them. Each has to be acquired. We need competition in our democracy. There is little doubt that the outcomes we see now reflect people’s choices.
That does not imply that the exercise was error-free. For instance, there were technical issues with the findings’ electronic transmission. There will undoubtedly be some areas that require improvement to increase the voting process’s credibility and transparency. Yet, none of the concerns submitted pose a threat to the elections’ integrity or fairness.
“I am aware that certain politicians and candidates may not share my opinion. That’s also okay. Bring the facts forward if any contender believes they can substantiate the fraud they allege was committed against them.
In conclusion, even while it may be difficult for the losers to accept, if they are unable to, then we must conclude that the election did indeed reflect the will of the people. If they feel the need to challenge themselves, kindly do it in the courts rather than in public.
The latter, however, implies that they are acting selfishly and inflammatory, putting people in danger, and not acting in the interests of the people.
Nevertheless, following the inevitable degree of divisiveness that follows every election, it is now time to unite and take responsibility. I urge all candidates to keep in mind the peace commitment they made immediately before the election. Do not undercut INEC’s authority. Let’s now advance collectively. The conversation is over.
Source: Punch
