A professional association, the Association of Real Estate Developers of Lagos State (AREDOL) has hailed the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his deputy, Senator Kashim Shettima, for defeating the flag bearer of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his Labour Party (LP) counterpart, Mr Peter Obi in the February 25 presidential election. The group described the election as a keenly contested one.
In a communique issued after the association’s meeting, its Chairman, Chief Adeniyi Lawal and Public Relations Officer (PRO), Otunba Fatai Quadri, said: “By the victory, Tinubu has not only brought glory to their party – All Progressives Congress (APC) – but also a joy to his numerous supporters and admirers who across other sectors, including real estate. More importantly, both leaders brought a paradigm shift to the scheme of things.’’
The association noted Tinubu’s words during the campaign that the presidency had been his dream and how he fought the many man-made mines put on his way by even his own party men and some officials in government to thwart his effort to overcome them. They also recall that not a few Nigerians were against the Muslim-Muslim ticket, which Tinubu and Shettima represent, yet they never gave up.
Significantly, the association said this victory would be a study for students of political science and history and other related areas in future on how one could believe in and live one’s dream. They said the victory, which cuts across the six geopolitical zones as indicated by the results, further indicated that both Tinubu and Shettima are really “men of the people”.
However, they counselled that this also comes with a challenge: “To whom much is given, much is expected. Thus, all eyes will be on you to satisfy every nook and cranny of the country that voted for you.’’
Still, it warned against the banana peels which destabilized past administrations that rewarded only areas that voted for them with projects. It said this was wrong. Reminding Tinubu of his promise to run an inclusive government, as well as recruit the best hands, AREDOL urged the president-elect to live his words.
Besides, they charged Atiku and Obi to limit their grievances to the court and thus advise their supporters who are protesting to sheathe their swords and await the verdict of the court, which will not take too long. Both Lawal and Quadri said while anyone is entitled to be aggrieved over a loss, it is improper to hit the streets to cause chaos. It, therefore, prevailed on Atiku and Obi to call their supporters to order, to allow peace to reign. At the moment, the association added, the economic atmosphere is too fragile and that protests would heat it the more.