AA, UDP candidates congratulate Buhari

THE presidential candidates of the Action Alliance (AA) and the United Democratic Party (UDP), Senator Tunde Anifowose Kelani and Godson Okoye respectively, yesterday described the presidential election as the fairest the country has witnessed.

The candidates, who congratulated General Mohammadu Buhari on his victory, noted that the outcome was the wish of Nigerians.

In his congratulatory message, Kelani stated, “Your victory at the poll is a great testimony of the consolidation of democracy in Nigeria. While we wish you well in your new task, we urge you to run an all-inclusive government.”

Okoye, who also described the election as free and fair, hailed the conduct of President Jonathan for accepting the outcome.

Also, Akwa Ibom State Governor and Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum, Godswill Akpabio, has commended President Goodluck Jonathan, for accepting the result of the presidential election and for congratulating General Muhammadu Buhari.

This was made known in a statement made available to The Guardian in Uyo.

His words, “With this, President Jonathan has conquered the sit-tight syndrome associated with African leaders, and placed Nigeria as a beacon of true democracy to the rest of the continent and indeed, the global community.”

Akpabio also congratulated the President-elect, General Buhari, urging him to form an-inclusive government that will give a sense of belonging to all Nigerians, irrespective of gender, ethnic or religion.
Archbishop Martins greets Jonathan, Buhari

Likewise, the Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, His Grace, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins has congratulated the President-elect on his victory, even as he commended President Goodluck Jonathan for his spirit of sportsmanship.

In a statement signed by the Director of Social Communications, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Msgr. Gabriel Osu, Archbishop Martins, while felicitating with Gen. Buhari, however, urged him to see his historic election as an act of God and a divine mandate to diligently direct the affairs of the nation with the fear of the Almighty.

The cleric commended his resilience, despite having failed in three consecutive past elections, remaining unflinching and determined until he actualized his ambition of receiving the people’s mandate to govern the country as a civilian president.

He charged General Buhari to see himself as the president of Nigeria and not as a member of APC, hence his policies and leadership style must be flexible and fair enough to address the myriads of needs and aspirations of all Nigerians.
Jimi Agbaje

Governorship candidate of the PDP in Lagos State, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, has also praised President Jonathan and General Buhari for their conduct.

Agbaje also commended Lagosians for voting massively for PDP in the presidential, Senatorial and House of Representatives elections.

In a statement by his Director of Media and Publicity, Felix Oboagwina, Agbaje commended President Jonathan for placing the nation ahead of personal and party interests by conceding defeat to Buhari.

“Many in Nigeria and the international community had feared that 2015 would witness post-election violence and explosion in Nigeria,” he said. “But the pre-election and post-election disposition of these candidates has defused the tension and frustrated all evil prognoses.”

Agbaje described President Jonathan as a man of history, being not only the first incumbent leader to concede defeat to the opposition, but one of the few African leaders who did not have the sit-tight or do-or-die attitude to politics.

He, however, urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to solve the several hitches that bedevilled the polls, including lateness of staff at duty posts and malfunctioning card readers.
Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) yesterday prayed for forgiveness over whatever lapses were observed in the administration of the outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan.

The NSCIA in a statement yesterday in Ilorin by its Secretary General, Professor Ish-haq Oloyede, said no human being is infallible, just as the body praised Jonathan for his magnanimity even as a loser of a keenly contested election.

Oloyede said, the election organised by the out-going government apart from being the best of its kind in Nigerian history, it has also served as a model even for developed democracies of the world.

According to him, while speaking on behalf of the President General of the NSCIA, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar and entire Nigerian Muslim community, “human beings are fallible and you have your weaknesses like the rest of us. We pray that Almighty Allah forgive your lapses and direct your future course.

Road transport employers commend polls

The President, Road Transport Employers Association (RTEAN), Alhaji Musa Shehu Isiwele, has hailed General Buhari’s victory at the presidential polls.

Isiwele appealed to the President-elect to be a father to all not minding the voting pattern and support that characterized the elections.