Author: The Nation

All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential aspirant, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim has congratulated the president-elect, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu and his vice, Kashim Shettima on their success in the political contest.

In a statement by his media, Olawepo-Hashim also prayed that “God will grant the duo the wisdom to bring the nation badly divided together and to bring succour immediately to the poor people of Nigeria who have suffered so much.”

He emphasised that “the business of national reconciliation and healing is urgent and cannot be delayed” to move the nation forward.

He said that “Asiwaju’s government must not be the government of the victors alone but an inclusive government, a government of every useful hand for the task of national unity and prosperity.”

The APC chieftain also commended the security agencies “who worked so hard to create the environment of peace.”

He maintained that “the Nigerian electorates who have borne so much hardship and provocations during the election are the real heroes of the election.

“The message from them is clear: they want real change.

“Our young people have been remarkable in this election they have come out in large numbers to say loudly they want a better Nigeria.

Read Also : Emerhor congratulates President-Elect Tinubu

“They represent the very best of our democracy and an immediate future that no force can stop.”

To the INEC, Olawepo-Hashim noted “that election agency has to work harder. It has to get its acts together as its conduct almost marred the election.”

He equally congratulated other participants particularly the Waziri Adamawa, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar former Vice President and candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the candidate of the Labour Party, His Excellency, Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra state who were very competitive in the Presidential election.

“Despite their reservations about the conduct of the election, particularly the collation of results, they have
continously conducted themselves as patriots and Democrats that they are using all legal and legitimate channels to ventilate their grievances.
“This is the way of democracy,” he said

He equally urged INEC to “improve its operations in the conduct of the Gubernatorial and states assembly elections, and all relevant agencies to address the dark sides of the just concluded election such as wide scale voter intimidation observed in the reports of many election observers.

“Our democracy must mature beyond the perennial problem of voters intimidation especially voters who are considered as non-indigenes.”

State governors, according to him, “must end the ugly practices of putting citizens under pressure to change their political choices through traditional rulers.

“We are a republic and franchise of all citizens must be protected regardless of their ethnic descent anywhere they have chosen to live.

“The democracy that my colleagues and I some three and half decades ago fought for and staked our lives for, is to allow the equality of all citizens and their rights to make their political choices in any corner of Nigeria they have chosen to live.”

The emergence of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the President-elect is an affirmation of Nigerians’ readiness to embrace unity and promote competence over mediocrity the Director, National Youth Mobilization (SW) of the APC-PCC, Hon. Kazeem Kolawole RAJI has said.

In a statement, Raji applauded the conduct and outcome of the Presidential election held over the weekend, contending that it was a true reflection of people’s political preference.

“Let me start by congratulating the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for giving Nigerians a free, fair, transparent, peaceful and credible election, where Nigerians were able to freely express their political wish. The outcome of the election was enough indication that it is far from past elections when the results can be safely predicted even before the actual conduct”, the statement reads.

He added that Asiwaju’s victory is a testimony to his glittering track records of public service, foresight and grit in party building and administration, as well as the courage the former Lagos State governor continues to demonstrate in fighting for the entrenchment of democracy in Nigeria.

“All these attributes make him worthy of the high esteem and enjoy the trust and massive support across the country”, he noted.

He also expressed confidence in the capacity and capability of the President-elect to deliver on his pre-election promises to the nation.

Read Also : Emerhor congratulates President-Elect Tinubu

“No doubt, the capacity of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to deliver on the party manifesto and the Renewed Hope Action Plan is absolute. His antecedents to deliver on electoral vows in the past is there for all to see. Areas of energy and stable power supply, infrastructural renewal, macro-economic stability, reinforced internal security, quality education and robust social engagements are some of the key areas that will be put on the front burner by the incoming administration of Jagaban Borgu. I wish the President-elect God’s guidance, wisdom, strength and uncommon grace to paddle the canoe of the nation into the desired destination. Congratulations, Mr President,” he concluded.