–  Aggrieved Parties advised to Swallow Bitterness and Congratulate Winners

Abiodun OBA, Bose Simeon, Bisi Abass & Tayo Afolabi

The UK Government has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on securing a second term as president.

A statement from the British High Commission in Abuja, quoted the Minister of State for Africa, Harriett Baldwin, as saying “I offer my congratulations to President Buhari on securing a second term as the Nigerian President.

“The UK is a long-standing friend and partner of Nigeria and the Nigerian people and a stable and prosperous Nigeria benefits Africa and the world.”

Baldwin commended Nigerians for their resilience and commitment to democracy.

She said the results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were consistent with the results obtained through the civil society Parallel Vote Tabulation process

“Along with our international partners, the UK believes the Nigerian people can have confidence in the result.”

She, however, recognised the concerns expressed by Nigerians on the conduct of the electoral process, in particular logistics and results collation, and reports of intimidation of electoral officers.

The minister urged any party or individual who wished to challenge the process to do so peacefully and through the appropriate legal channel.

“We encourage Nigerian authorities to examine all allegations of wrongdoing carefully, and take the necessary action against individuals found responsible’’.

She also condoled with the families and friends of those who lost their lives in election-related violence.

“No one should die in the exercise of their democratic rights,” she stated.

She reiterated the continued support of the UK Government to Nigeria and its civil society “in drawing lessons from these elections and strengthening its democracy”.

Meanwhile, some African leaders have sent congratulatory messages to President Muhammadu Buhari on his re-election.

According to a statement issued in Abuja by Garba Shehu Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity), King Mohammed VI of the Kingdom of Morocco described President Buhari’s victory as an affirmation of the level of confidence Nigerians have in their President and promised to work with him to advance the interests of both countries.

‘‘Your re-election is a testimony to the level of confidence that you enjoy among the people of Nigeria, attributable to your wisdom, experience in politics, sense of engagement and devotion to the service and the protection of the interests of the country especially as they relate to the prosperity, wellbeing and security of your people.”

The monarch expressed satisfaction with the existing cordial and fraternal African relationship linking the two leaders, their people, and nations.

He reiterated his determination to work in concert with President Buhari to reinforce the mutually beneficial relationship between Morocco and Nigeria and to give it a new impetus to serve as a model on the African continent.

In his case, President Alpha Omar Conde of Guinea described the re-election of President Buhari as a dose of hope for the West African region.

Professor Conde expressed confidence that the cordial relations between Nigeria and Guinea will continue to get better.

Before now, President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger, who was the first leader to call President Buhari minutes after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared him the winner of the 2019 presidential elections, said he looked forward to working with the Nigerian leader to further strengthen Nigeria-Niger relations.

President Buhari has also received congratulatory messages from Presidents Nana Koffi-Addo of Ghana and Macky Sall of Senegal among others.

In a related development, aggrieved parties in the just concluded presidential election, have been advised to swallow their bitterness and congratulate the winners.

Former Governor of Abia State and the Senator-elect for Abia North Senatorial District, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu said that those who lost the just concluded elections should swallow their bitterness and congratulate winners.

Kalu, in a statement made available in Abuja, said the culture of the concession of defeat must be imbibed if democracy must grow in the country.

He asked Nigerians to ensure they act in the interest of the country at all times adding that no one should lose hope of the future.

“With the conclusion and announcement of the results of the 2019 Presidential and National Assembly elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC], Nigerians of all shades of opinions, irrespective of political, tribal or religious divides must now place the interest of the Country above every other interest.

“Expectedly, President Muhamadu Buhari was re-elected as the President and Commander- in- Chief of Nigeria for the second term of four years. I congratulate the President for emerging victorious in the election and I also thank the People of Abia North Senatorial district for finding me worthy of representing them in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“I call on all Nigerians to accept the outcome of the elections as announced by INEC as a reflection of the will of the People.

“In his acceptance speech, the President said: “the new Administration will intensify its effort in Security, Restructuring the economy and Fighting Corruption. We have laid down the foundation and we are committed to seeing matters to the end. We will strive to strengthen our unity and inclusiveness so that no section or group will feel left behind or left out”.

“I urge you to please trust the President and continue to have faith in our democracy and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“The election was tough and hotly contested by the two main political parties in Nigeria, The PDP and the APC. In 2016, President Donald Trump and former Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton ran a very tough, divisive and even nasty campaign but Clinton still congratulated President Trump immediately after the election and the Democrats moved on and started preparing for the next election.

“If our democracy must grow, we must emulate the very positive sides of the United States democratic system, from whence we borrowed our presidential system.

It will be recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday declared President Buhari the winner of the 2019 Presidential Elections.

The Ohaneze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural group, on Thursday congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on his victory in the Presidential Election of Feb. 23.

The Secretary-General of the group, Chief Uche Okwukwu, gave the congratulatory message while briefing newsmen in Enugu.

“The Ohaneze Ndigbo heartily rejoices and congratulates President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, on his well-deserved victory at the Presidential polls on Feb. 23.

“His victory as exposed by the majority of votes cast has clearly shown that the President has been on the right course in the last four years.

“Ndigbo are deeply happy that Mr President secured more votes in Igbo land than he got in 2015.

“We urge all Nigerians and the international community to accept the verdict as the election was adjudged free, credible, transparent and peaceful.

“Ohanaze is calling on all not to heat up the polity through unguarded utterances and actions,’’ he said.

Okwukwu added that the leadership of the group would be meeting with President Buhari next week to present to him an official congratulatory message on his well-deserved victory at the poll.

He, however, said that the group would use the occasion to present to Buhari the charter of their demands for infrastructure uplift of the entire Igbo speaking areas of the country.

“Part of our demands will be the completion of ongoing infrastructure works such as the 2nd Niger Bridge, modern railway, completion of ongoing Enugu-Onitsha and Enugu-Port Harcourt roads, fixing of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport among others,’’ he said.

Ohaneze members are drawn from seven states, which include; Abia, Anambra, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo and Rivers States.

President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was declared re-elected by INEC on Wednesday, having polled 15,191,847 votes, winning in 19 states.

Buhari defeated 72 other candidates, including Atiku Abubakar, the candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who scored 11,255,978 votes and won 17 states and the FCT, to occupy the second position.

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