In Abuja yesterday, President-elect Bola Tinubu received his Certificate of Return, which he described as a testament to his victory at the February 25 presidential election and a call to action that he could not ignore. He urged all Nigerians to join a joint effort to bring the country out of its current difficulties. Tinubu acknowledged the pain of his opponents and their supporters following a close race and emphasized the need for their support as much as Nigeria needed them. He reiterated his commitment to progress and development and renewed hope for all Nigerians.
Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu commented on the election, stating that the outcome reflected the electorate’s wishes. He claimed the election was the country’s most accessible and fairest. Meanwhile, elder statesman Alhaji Tanko YakasaI urged the presidential candidates of the Labour Party (LP) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to accept the outcome of the election.
Tinubu emerged victorious with 8,794,726 votes, defeating his closest rival, Atiku Abubakar, who scored 6,984,520, and Peter Obi, who polled 6,101,533 votes. Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) came in fourth with 1,496,687 votes.
In his address to the nation after receiving the certificate of return, Tinubu said the certificate symbolized the country’s collective democratic attainment and represented the transfer of the most sacred duty and trust from one person to another. He assured citizens, especially the youth, that he would work tirelessly to improve Nigeria.
Tinubu also spoke about shedding the artificial restrictions of bias and prejudice so that Nigerians could live fully unto their democratic creed, stating that no one is innately superior or entitled to greater rights and opportunities than any other Nigerian. He also highlighted the possibility of a woman or a member of a group that many people have dismissed as unqualified holding the certificate in the future.
A Committee of Elders of the APC will soon meet with the co-contestants of the president-elect to reconcile and heal any grievances. Governor Akeredolu is a member of one such committee and stressed that every aggrieved person would be met for reconciliation.
