Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the president-elect says Nigerians must heal after the just concluded election.
The former Lagos governor who has been declared winner of the March 18 presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, made the comment despite the rejection of the results by other presidential candidates.
His co-contestants, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Peter Obi of the Labour Party, LP have rejected the results announced by the electoral body citing various irregularities such as rigging, voter intimidation, amongst others.
The two candidates have approached the court to overturn the election, described by not a few Nigerians to be highly controversial.
But Tinubu, in a statement on Tuesday sues for peace, saying there’s need to “champion the healing process, and put the controversies sorrounding the elections behind.
Part of the healing process, he said, is for the governors-elect to embrace other candidates who they defeated during the March 18 governorship election.
He said government officials must now settle down for governance folllowing the conclusion of the election.
“The time for leadership and governance is now upon us,” now the elections have been concluded, he said.
According to him, “In a democracy, majority would have their way but that majority must not suppress the minority from having their say. As democrats, we have to safeguard free expression. Winners must be magnanimous and those who did not win should have a large heart for tolerance and respect for the greater interest of the nation.
“As the elected, the only way to justify the trust and confidence of the people and the mandate entrusted in us is to commit ourselves to the service of the people. We must all work diligently and sincerely to make life better for the masses. As elected officers, we have no other assignment than to be burden-bearers for the masses and ensure they have better life that we promised during the campaigns.
“We must take urgent steps to unite the people; those who voted for us and those who did not. We must champion the healing process by embracing the opponents and their supporters. As I have stated previously, the time for politicking is gone. This is time for nation building, a task beyond one individual or a section of the society. We need every hand from wherever it may come to be on deck.
“I am ready to work with you all as your President. I will be a worthy partner you can trust and rely on as we all bond together, in unity of purpose and renewed hope for, the betterment of our blessed country and beloved people.
“Elections should be a celebration of our maturing democracy and freedom of choice and ought not to be moments of grief. I am particularly pained by cases of ethnic slurs, which are capable of creating needless mis-characterisation reported in some locations.
“My appeal is for us to rise above our differences, which, in reality, are fewer than the valued strings that bind us together as a people irrespective of the circumstances of our births.
“As former governor of Lagos State, I can attest to the strength in our diversity and togetherness. As your President-elect, it is that spirit of inclusiveness we engendered in Lagos that I intend to bring into national governance so that together we can attain our full potentials,” Tinubu said.
