Muhammadu Buhari, who won the presidential election last
weekend, has said he was widen a hand of peace to
President Goodluck Jonathan after a resentful presidential
poll. He also assured Nigerians that Jonathan has
“nothing to fear” after losing power.
Former military ruler spoke after receiving the Certificate of
Return as the president-elect, from the Independent
National Electoral Commission.
The current head of the country received international
commend on Tuesday, March 31, after conceding defeat
and calling opposition leader to congratulate him even
before the official announcement of poll results by the
electoral commission.
In his concession speech the incumbent president said he
kept his pledge of credible and peaceful polls, and
confirmed his seriousness not to plunge the nation into
murder over his political bid.
Buhari in what seemed a direct answer to the president’s
move, said the nation should put behind the turbulence of
electioneering and evaluate the “change” his party, the All
Progressives Congress (APC) promises.
The opposition leader said he holds no grievance against
anyone, comprising members of the ruling Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) and the Jonathan’s team.
Buhari said: “But despite the rancour of the elections, I extend
a hand of friendship and conciliation to President Jonathan
and his team. I hereby wish to state that I harbour no ill will
against anyone.
“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.”
The former military ruler said President Jonathan earns the
support and “permanent respect” of all Nigerians by merit
of the government he has held.
“This is how an honourable nation treats its servants and
conducts its affairs; and this is how Nigeria should be,” he
said, adding that he will meet with the president for both
sides to work out a smooth transition,” president elect
added.
General Buhari said the nation should put the past,
particularly the recent, behind, but must not forget to learn
from “old battles and past grievances—and learn to forge
ahead”.
He stated that he has also put behind the controversy over
his academic eligibility for the poll.
“Some unfortunate issues about my eligibility have been
raised during the campaign. I wish to state that through
devotion to this nation, everything I have learned and done
has been to enable me to make the best possible contribution
to public life. If I had judged myself incapable of governing
I would never have sought to impose myself on it. I have
served in various capacities and have always put in my best,”
Buhari said.
APC candidate noted that his administration will be a
listening one and will treat all Nigerians equally.
“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,
region, 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,” president-elect continued.
“You are all my people and I shall treat every one 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.”
It should be mentioned that the importance of Buhari’s
victory is emphasized by the fact that this will be the first
time in the history of Nigeria’s electoral process that an
incumbent president is defeated.
The whole world today, April 1, praised Nigeria’s incumbent
leader of democratic and peaceful polls.
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Posted from 112world
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