Nigeria’s president-elect Muhammadu Buhari on
Wednesday sought to reconcile past differences with
incumbent Goodluck Jonathan, extending a hand of
friendship to his beaten election opponent.
“Let me state clearly: President Jonathan has nothing to
fear from me,” he said in Abuja after his victory was
confirmed in the early hours. “He is a great Nigerian and
still our president.”
He added: “Democracy and the rule of law will be
established in the land. Let’s put the past behind us,
especially the recent past. We must forget our old battles
and past grievances and forge ahead.”
uhari read a prepared speech in which he also reiterated his
determination to end insurgency in the North-East, rescue
the economy and stem corruption which he described as an
evil worse than terrorism.
The President-elect, who was Head of State between 1983
and 1985, said even though there could be a disagreement
between him and Jonathan over governance, the President
remained a great Nigerian.
He said, “Let me state clearly that President Jonathan has
nothing to fear from me. Although we may not agree on the
methods of governing the nation, he is a great Nigerian and
still our president. He deserves our support and permanent
respect by virtue of the office he has held.
“This is how an honourable nation treats its servants and
conducts its affairs. I should be looking forward to meeting
with President Jonathan in the days to come to discuss
how our teams can make the transition of administrations
as efficient as possible.”
On insurgency, he said, “No doubt, this nation has suffered
greatly in the recent past, and its staying power has been
tested to its limits by crises, chief among which is
insurgency of the Boko Haram.
“There is no doubt that in tackling the insurgency, we have
a tough and urgent job to do.
“But I assure you that Boko Haram will soon know the
strength of our collective will and commitment to rid this
nation of terror, and bring back peace and normalcy to all
the affected areas. We shall spare no effort until we defeat
terrorism.”
Reiterating his readiness to fight corruption which,
according to him, constitutes a threat to “our economic
development and democratic survival,” he said, “no longer
shall it( graft) be allowed to stand as if it is a respected
monument in this nation.”
He added, “We shall strongly battle another form of evil that
is even worse than terrorism—the evil of corruption.
Corruption attacks and seeks to destroy our national
institutions and character.
“By misdirecting into selfish hands funds intended for the
public purpose, corruption distorts the economy and
worsens income inequality. It creates a class of unjustly-
enriched people.
“Such an illegal yet powerful force soon comes to
undermine democracy because its conspirators have
amassed so much money that they believe they can buy
government.
“We shall end this threat to our economic development and
democratic survival. I repeat that corruption will not be
tolerated by this administration.”
Appealing to Nigerians to join him in “ resolving these and
the other challenges we face,” he stated that “along the
way, there will be victories but there may also be
setbacks.”
He added, “Mistakes will be made. But we shall never take
you for granted; so, rest assured that our errors will be
those of compassion and commitment not of wilful neglect
and indifference.
“We shall correct that which does not work and improve
that which does. We shall not stop, stand or idle.”
Buhari also said that his declaration as President-elect
meant that the change many Nigerians had been yearning
for had finally come.
“Today, history has been made and change has finally
come. Your votes have changed our national destiny for the
good of all Nigerians,’’ he said in the speech titled, ‘‘The die
is cast.’’
Noting that the challenges ahead were many, the President-
elect said, “We shall, if necessary crawl, walk and run to do
the job you have elected us to do.”
He promised to deliver good governance and ensure that his
administration did not rule Nigerians “as if they were
subservient to government.”
Buhari also pledged that his government would respect the
rule of law as nobody should be above the law.
The former military ruler said that he would treat those who
voted against him and those who did not vote equally as
those who voted for him on Saturday.
He said, “I pledge myself and our in-coming administration
to just and principled governance.There shall be no bias
against or favouritism for any Nigerian based on ethnicity,
religion, gender or social status.
“I pledge myself and the government to the rule of law, in
which none shall be so above the law that they are not
subject to its dictates, and none shall be so below it that
they are not availed of its protection.
“You shall be able to go to bed knowing that you are safe
and that your constitutional rights remain in safe hands.
You shall be able to voice your opinion without fear of
reprisal or victimisation.
“My love and concern for this nation and what I desire for it
extends to all, even to those who do not like us or our
politics. You are all my people and I shall treat everyone of
you as my own.
“ I shall work for those who voted for me as well as those
who voted against me and even for those who did not vote
at all. We all live under one name as one nation: we are all
Nigerians.”
Buhari, who had previously contested three times said he
had always enjoyed the support of Nigerians but their votes
were only allowed to count last Saturday.
He said, “We will govern for you and in your interests. Your
vote was not wasted. This is not the first time Nigerians
have cast their votes for us, and this is not the first time
they have been counted; but this is the first time that the
votes have been allowed to count. With the help of God, we
pledge to do our utmost to bring forth the Nigeria you
seek.”
On his eligibility for the presidential election, he said he
would never have sought to contest if he had adjudged
himself incapable.
While he condoled with the families that lost their loved
ones in the celebration that followed his victory on Tuesday,
he also thanked Nigerians for reposing confidence in him.
He said, “Most of all, I thank the people of Nigeria for
reposing their confidence in me at this trying moment. Our
nation wrestles many challenges including insecurity,
corruption, economic decline. I pledge to give you my best
in tackling these problems.
“The good people of Nigeria, your obligation does not end
with casting your ballot. I seek your voice and input as we
tackle these problems. This will not be a government
democratic only in form. It will be a government democratic
in substance and in how it interacts with its own people.”
He also thanked his party, the All Progressives Congress,
INEC, past leaders of the nation, world leaders, civil society
organistations for their roles in successful conduct of the
elections.
Buhari said, “Here, I want to thank my party for selecting
me as its candidate. I thank our party leaders and members
for the steadfast contributions they made to bring our
dream to fruition. I thank INEC, the police and all other
government agencies for performing their tasks in a proper
manner and for refusing to be induced to undermine the
election and the democratic process.
“I also wish to thank religious leaders, traditional leaders,
the media, labour unions, civil society organisations,
organised private sector, youths and students for their roles
in this election.
“I give special thanks to President Obama and his timely
intervention and support for peaceful and credible elections
in Nigeria and for sending Secretary of State John Kerry and
other United States officials. The European Union –
especially the United Kingdom, France, Germany and other
nations that were actively involved in ensuring the success
of this election are equally appreciated. My sincere thanks
to the United Nations Secretary General Mr Ban-Ki moon.
The Commonwealth, China, India and other Asian and Gulf
states are also hereby appreciated.
“Finally our brothers in the African Union and ECOWAS have
truly and clearly shown and demonstrated their
commitment to our democratisation process. Former
Presidents John Kuffour, Amos Sawyer, Bakili Muluzi and
his team are well appreciated. I must also add my
appreciation for the role played by civil societies, national
and international observers, other world leaders in ensuring
that Nigeria holds free and fair elections.
“I assure all foreign governments that Nigeria will become a
more forceful and constructive player in the global fight
against terrorism and in other matters of collective concern,
such as the fight against drugs, climate change, financial
fraud, communicable diseases and other issues requiring
global response. I want to assure our fellow African nations
that Nigeria will now stand as a more constructive partner
in advancing the matters of concern to our continent,
particularly with regard to economic development and
eradication of poverty.
“Former heads of state and presidents, Chief Olusegun
Obasanjo, General Yakubu Gowon, Alhaji Shehu Shagari,
Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, Chief Ernest Shonekan and
Gen.Abdulsalami Abubakar, deserve commendations for
their statesmanship and words of caution and counsel for
peace during the tense moments of this electoral period.”
Earlier, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral
Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, in his capacity as the
Chief Returning Officer for the presidential election, had
declared Buhari the winner of the poll at 2.50am and 3am
on Wednesday.
Buhari polled 15,424,921 votes to beat Jonathan, who
received 12,853,162 votes in the election in which 12 other
candidates participated.
Buhari won in 21 states and received 25 per cent of the total
votes cast in 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Jonathan, who won in 15 states and the FCT and received
25 per cent of the votes in 25 states of the federation and
the FCT.
Jega, who revealed that over 700,000 ad hoc staff were
deployed for the March 28 and forthcoming April 11 polls,
said there was the need to keep reforming and improving
the nation’s electoral process.
He thereafter presented certificates of return to Buhari and
Vice-President-elect, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, and commended
Nigerians for supporting INEC in the conduct of the polls. CLICK HERE TO READ FULL AND TOUCHING NIGERIAN CELEBRITIES BIOGRAPHY AND SCANDALS
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