Gov urges leaders to emulate Jonathan

THE Taraba State Acting Governor, Alhaji Sani Abubakar Danladi, has called on African leaders and the world at large to emulate the sportsmanship displayed by President Goodluck Jonathan in accepting the results of the just-concluded presidential election.

He said the decision of President Jonathan to accept defeat by congratulating the elected president, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, would go a long way to strengthen democracy in Nigeria, adding that leaders all over the world “should borrow a leaf from President Jonathan.”

The acting governor, who expressed optimism that the ruling PDP in the state will record a resounding victory on April 11 governorship of election, also took his time to congratulate the incoming President, stressing the need for all Nigerians irrespective of religion and political party affiliations to give him the much needed supports he needs to succeed.

In the same vein, the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) has urged the President-elect, Gen. Buhari, to hit the ground running with his campaign promises to Nigerians after inauguration.

The President of the institute, Chief Mark Anthony Dike, in a congratulatory message to Buhari, linked his victory to the belief, trust and confidence that the good people of Nigeria had in the change mantra that featured prominently in his campaigns.

Dike, who appealed that the people’s confidence that under his leadership Nigeria will maintain political and civil stability, economic progress, improved living standards and other developmental strides should not be taken for granted, said: “Our institute has meticulously studied the programmes encapsulated in the manifesto of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which you had always emphasised in your campaigns across the nation. Some of the things that caught our attention particularly are the readiness of APC to stabilise oil prices at $100 a barrel, provide free education to all, pay N5,000 every month to the poorest 25 million people, generate 40,000 megawatts of electricity in four years and payment of allowances to youth corps members, at least, a year after service.

Also, a renowned cleric and founder of the Sword of the Spirit Ministries, Bishop Francis Wale Oke, has called on the President-elect, Gen. Buhari, to reach out to every sector and region of the economy, not minding who voted for or against him and father the nation.

Oke, who made this call while speaking with newsmen in Lagos yesterday, said: “God has chosen you so that you can father the nation; reach out to the East, West, North and South more than you reached out during the election campaigns so that you can bring the whole nation together in unity.”

The bishop, who congratulated the electioneering process as being the first time an opposition will win a credible election over an entrenched Federal Government and also the first time a loser at the presidential election will swiftly call the winner to congratulate him, said: “I want to celebrate with Dr. Goodluck Jonathan; he has written his name in gold, in the annals of Nigeria which no other head of state has done. This singular act of congratulating the opponent has saved thousands of lives, because some people were ready to unleash mayhem on this nation.”

Briefing journalists yesterday in Jalingo, the state capital, the acting governor said he was full of optimism that the newly-elected president would build on the achievements of the outgoing president hence the need for people to rally round him.

While commending Gen. Buhari on his victory, Oke described him as a dogged-fighter who did not give up because he had passion for Nigeria, saying: “Let us join hands to build one indivisible Nigeria, the time of politicking is over, the time of unity has come.”