Wild jubilation erupted across Nigeria
on Tuesday following the victory of the All Progressives Congress
candidate in the March 28 presidential election, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu
Buhari (retd.).
The 72-year-old Katsina-born former Head
of State defeated incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan in an epic
electoral battle, winning in 21 states of the federation while Jonathan
won in 15 and the Federal Capital Territory.
From the North-East to the
North-Central, North-West, South-South, South-East and South-West, the
young, the old, male and female trooped out to celebrate a
history-making political victory in the annals of the country.
The victory marked the first time
political power at the centre would shift from the conservatives to the
progressives in a country, whose politics is strewn along the pathways
of ethnicity, religion and corruption.
A cross-section of prominent Nigerians
has, however, described the victory of Buhari, who had failed on three
consecutive attempts to clinch the presidency, as the dawn of a new
order for Nigeria.
Prominent among those who reacted to
Buhari’s victory, were his ardent critics such as a chieftain of
pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere, Ayo Adebanjo; leader of the Oodua Peoples
Congress, Gani Adams; National Chairman of the Unity Party of Nigeria,
Fredrick Fasehun, among others.
However, encomiums and congratulatory
messages poured in from prominent Nigerian leaders, especially members
of the APC, who described the victory as deserving.
Obasanjo, Atiku react
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has
congratulated Buhari over his victory at the poll, charging him to fight
corruption and carry out reforms in different sectors.
Obasanjo, who noted that so much harm
had already been done to many national institutions including the
military,however, advised him to be magnanimous in victory.
He said, “With so much harm already done
to many national institutions including the military, which proudly
nurtured you and I, you will have a lot to do on institution reforms –
education, health care, economy, security, infrastructure, power, youth
employment, agri-business, oil and gas, external affairs, cohesiveness
of our nation and ridding our land of corruption.”
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar also congratulated the winner, saying the victory symbolises national rebirth.
He said, “Your victory in the polls,
with votes from across the length and breadth of our country, bears
witness to the acceptance of not just our party, the APC, but also your
ideology of justice, fair play and zero tolerance for corruption as the
bedrock for national rebirth.”
Sultan of Sokoto
The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar,
hailed Nigerians for coming out to peacefully vote in the presidential
and National Assembly elections.
The Sultan also commended President Jonathan for calling Buhari to congratulate him on his victory at the polls.
He made the comments while speaking with Channels TV about the elections.
He said, “I have heard so many comments
from so many people across the country and some parts of the world. The
elections have been very peaceful in most part of the country and I have
seen that the voters and electoral officials behaved very well and
everything went so smoothly.”
Prominent politicians
Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola,
described the victory as “the best thing that can happen to a country
that has endured 16 years of misrule at the centre.”
In a statement by his media aide, Semiu
Okanlawon, on Tuesday, Aregbesola said, “Nigeria has finally been
rescued from the jaws of death after 16 years of social, political and
economic strains.”
Speaking in a similar vein, Rivers State
Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, described Buhari’s victory as the best thing
to happen to Nigeria’s democratic experience and a signal to the end of
the Peoples Democratic Party at all levels.
Amaechi, who spoke on Tuesday through
his Chief of Staff, Chief Tony Okocha, explained that the PDP refused to
deliver the goods to Nigerians for the past 16 years, promising that
Nigerians would soon begin to enjoy the dividends of democracy.
He said, “General Buhari’s victory is no
doubt the best thing that has happened to the whole of our democratic
experience in Nigeria. Of course, his victory will signal the end of the
PDP at all levels.”
A former National Secretary of the PDP,
Olagunsoye Oyinlola, described the victory as a huge victory for
democracy and for all Nigerians.
Oyinlola, a former Osun State governor,
who is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the APC, said in a
statement on Tuesday that “the peaceful manner change came to Nigeria
showed the hand of God in the nation’s affairs.”
Congratulating the President-elect,
Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State said the victory signalled a new
dawn in the nation’s polity
Oshiomhole, in a statement signed by his
Chief Press Secretary, Peter Okhiria, said, “The spread of your victory
across the length and breadth of the country shows your national
acceptance as the man Nigeria needs at this critical stage to reposition
her from the 16 years of misrule of the PDP.”
He added, “Despite the smear campaigns
against your person and candidature and the attempts to polarise the
country along ethnic and religious lines, Nigerians made a bold
statement by speaking through their ballots that you are, indeed, the
President they want at this time of our national history.”
A former Governor of Osun State, Isiaka
Adeleke, said the victory was ordained by God, adding that Buhari’s
emergence was the climax of a political revolution whose time has come.
Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha,
said by the victory he had been justified for his decision to be part of
the merger that resulted in the creation of the APC.
Okorocha, who is the Chairman of APC
Governor’s Forum, in a statement signed by his media aide, Sam
Onwuemeodo, said it “would have been disastrous for the lgbo to be
excluded in the new order in Nigeria.”
A former Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, said the emergence of Buhari signposted a new beginning for Nigeria.
Fayemi, who spoke through his Chief
Press Secretary, Olayinka Oyebode, said, “History has just been made in
our dear country. Nigerians have spoken. They have spoken clearly
through their votes. They want a new direction and a new approach to
governance and the APC government under the able leadership of General
Muhammadu Buhari owes them this and more.”
A renowned professor of political
economy and former presidential candidate, Prof. Pat Utomi, said the
Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof.
Attahiru Jega, and President Jonathan deserved credit for a successful
conduct of the presidential election on Saturday.
He said, “This election was won by the
poorest of the poor and unless the government focuses on uplifting the
poorest of the poor, then we have missed the road. One of the ways to do
this is to determine the biggest challenges that the majority of the
Nigerian people face.”
Northern Governors’ Forum
The Chairman, Northern States Governors
Forum and Governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, on Tuesday,
congratulated the President-elect on his electoral success.
Aliyu, in a statement by his Chief Press
Secretary, Israel Ebije, said the victory of Buhari should be seen as
victory for Nigeria’s democracy and the collective progress of the
nation.
Aliyu also hailed President Jonathan for conceding defeat, saying history will remember him for his political maturity.
One dies celebrating in Jos
One person was killed in Bukuru area of
Jos-South Local Government Area of Plateau State as jubilant youths
celebrated the victory of Buhari.
One of our correspondents gathered that
the youths trooped into the streets as soon as news filtered in at about
5.45 pm that Jonathan had phoned Buhari to congratulate him.
An eyewitness said that the victim died around Kugiya area of Bukuru.
Also, jubilant youths from Gangere area of Jos-North marched through Muritala Mohammad Way, singing and jubilating.
Edo declares holiday
The Edo State Government has declared today a work-free day to celebrate the victory of Buhari.
Oshiomhole, in a statement signed by
Okhiria, on Tuesday, also declared a victory party, which he said would
hold on the same day.
The statement read, “Meanwhile, the
state Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, invites the people of the state to a
victory party which will hold at the Oba Ovoranmwen Square, Benin City,
starting from 3pm on Wednesday, April 1.”
Celebration galore
Wild celebrations erupted across the country on Tuesday with jubilant youths storming through cities and towns.
Sagamu, Ijebu Ode
Hundreds of Buhari supporters took to the streets of Sagamu and Ijebu Ode on Tuesday to celebrate.
In Sagamu, the party supporters thronged
the party secretariat on Ewusi Street around 6pm armed with brooms
amidst fanfare to celebrate Buhari’s victory.
Osogbo
It was celebration galore in Osogbo as
youths also took to the streets. From Oke-Fia to Ola Iya to Oke Baale,
hundreds of youths sang the praise of Buhari to high heavens.
Gani Adams, Fasehun, Adebanjo, Ogunlewe react
Afenifere leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, has hailed the outcome of the election.
He urged Buhari to prove the Yoruba elders wrong by adhering to the tenets of democracy.
Adebanjo, who is a staunch supporter of President Jonathan, said the wishes of the people must be respected.
The 87-year-old said, “I have nothing
personal against Buhari, I don’t hate the man but I cannot forget what
he did in the past. He says he is now a democrat but we did not believe
him. But now that he has won, he must prove us wrong by being a true
democrat.”
Also speaking with one of our correspondents in a separate interview, Gani Adams, described the poll as the will of God.
Adams had promised Jonathan six million
votes and was criticised for leading a protest in Lagos to drum support
for Jonathan two weeks ago.
When asked what would become of the N4bn
pipeline contract awarded to the OPC by the outgoing Jonathan
administration, he said, “On the issue of the contract, we are all
Nigerians and we fought for it. I am not an opportunist, we fought for
it and we are entitled to that contract and I know Gen. Buhari knows the
right thing to do at the right time.”
He said, “The contract was awarded to the OPC by the NNPC and I don’t think a change of personality in government can stop it.”
However, Fasehun, said Buhari did not have the power to terminate the contract.
He said, “The contract was awarded to the OPC by the NNPC and I don’t think a change of personality in government can stop it.”
Also speaking with one of our
correspondents, a former Minister of Works, Mr. Adeseye Ogunlewe, urged
Buhari, to be fair to all Nigerians and not to forget his campaign
promises.
Ogunlewe, who is a chieftain of the PDP
in Lagos, described the elections as a victory for democracy and
Nigerians. He also thanked the people of Lagos for delivering over
600,000 votes to President Jonathan.
He said, “Nigerians have spoken and I
congratulate them. Buhari must be fair to all. He should justify his
victory by making Nigeria better than he met it. He must also keep the
promises he made to them.”
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