Buhari’s victory: Obasanjo, Atiku, others rejoice as jubilant crowd take over APC secretariat
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has
congratulated president-elect, Major-General
Muhammadu Buhari.
He urged him to fight corruption and carry out
reforms in various sectors.
The congratulatory message was issued in Abeokuta
on Tuesday.
Obasanjo said: “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, agri-business, 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. The country is blessed with
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.
“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.
“I know that in victory, you will be magnanimous to
start binding the wounds and bitterness occasioned
by the campaign and the evil disciples.”
Also, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar
congratulated Buhari.
He said: “My hearty congratulations to His
Excellency, General Muhammadu Buhari, for being
elected the next president of our beloved county,
Nigeria. You have led our party, the All Progressives
Congress to an unprecedented victory within two
years of its official formation, and in so doing,
written the most important chapter of our
democracy.
“The great Nnamdi Azikiwe once wrote that “history
will continue to vindicate the just.” 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.
“At this historic moment, it is most important to say
a hearty thank you to every Nigerian who voted for
the APC. Your votes have not just elected the first
opposition party into federal power, but has also set
a precedent which will have positive implications for
democracy across Africa.
“Dear GMB, the journey has just begun. Millions of
Nigerians have put their trust in you, because they
were not satisfied with the status quo. You represent
the hope of a new generation of Nigerians, and you
cannot afford to fail them. Our party has made a
promise of change to our young people, to secure
and rebuild our country, create jobs and
opportunity, and improve citizens’ welfare. We will
stand behind you to ensure we keep those promises,
just like we did during these elections.
“Our country needs a new direction. We have voted
for you, and our party won the election, but when
you assume our highest office, you must become the
president of not just the APC, but all of Nigeria,
including the people who did not vote for you. We
look up to you to heal the fractures of our country,
and truly unite this country like never before.
“To President Jonathan, I want to specially thank you
for conducting a historic election. Your party may
have lost the elections, but you have won the
admiration of the world by not interfering with the
wishes of Nigerians. History will be kind to you. It is
my sincere hope that we will all come together as
one country, to build the Nigeria of our dreams”.
Kwara State governor, Alhaji AbdulFattah Ahmed,
congratulated Buhari on his success at the polls.
Ahmed said: “I congratulate and wish you success in
the job of building a truly united and prosperous
Nigeria.
“I also congratulate Nigerians for standing up for
change and using their votes to bring about the
leadership with the capacity to uplift the country
and it’s people.”
Meanwhile, jubilant crowd, on Tuesday night, took
over major streets in the country to jubilate.
At the APC headquarters in Abuja, the celebrants
numbering over 2,000 danced round the office
chanting victory songs.
Various dance groups, traditional drummers, well
wishers and party chieftains exchanged pleasantries
for the party’s victory at the polls.
Some of the groups chanted with Buhari’s name
describing him as the needed change.
No fewer than 100 journalists comprising local and
international media were also at the party’s
secretariat waiting to receive Buhari.
Security agents, including men of the Department of
State Security Service (DSS) and the Police were seen
at strategic positions within and outside the
secretariat to ensure security.
Senator Kabiru Gaya said that the victory called for
celebration since it was happening in the country’s
democracy for the first time.
“We thank God almighty for the opportunity given to
us to have a good transition in this democratic era; I
now believe that democracy is here to stay.
“We have been shifting from one party to the other
but now I think there will stability; I hope Nigerians
will accept this change in good fate for good things
to come.
“The people have decided who they want and it is
Buhari; we hope that he can make changes in this
new dispensation,’’ Gaya said.
Another set of jubilant crowd blocked the T-junction
close to the AP Plaza on the Adetokumbo Ademola
way, Wuse II, Abuja, chanting APC slogans.
It was the same situation in Dutse, the Jigawa State
capital Tuesday night.
Youths, in their hundreds, took over major streets,
singing, dancing and playing Buhari songs.
In major streets of Ibadan, Oyo State, youths were
seen celebrating in carnival-like manner.
They shouted “Buhari’s victory is not for Buhari
alone but for all Nigerians”.
No comments:
Post a Comment