Jubilation as Obasanjo, Sultan, others hail Buhari

Wild jubilation erupted across
Nigeria on Tuesday following the
victory of the All Progressives
Congress candidate in the March 28
presidential election, Maj. Gen.
Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).
The 72-year-old Katsina-born
former Head of State defeated
incumbent President Goodluck
Jonathan in an epic electoral battle,
winning in 21 states of the
federation while Jonathan won in
15 and the Federal Capital Territory.
From the North-East to the North-
Central, North-West, South-South,
South-East and South-West, the
young, the old, male and female
trooped out to celebrate a history-
making political victory in the
annals of the country.
The victory marked the first time
political power at the centre would
shift from the conservatives to the
progressives in a country, whose
politics is strewn along the
pathways of ethnicity, religion and
corruption.
A cross-section of prominent
Nigerians has, however, described
the victory of Buhari, who had
failed on three consecutive
attempts to clinch the presidency,
as the dawn of a new order for
Nigeria.
Prominent among those who
reacted to Buhari’s victory, were his
ardent critics such as a chieftain of
pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere, Ayo
Adebanjo; leader of the Oodua
Peoples Congress, Gani Adams;
National Chairman of the Unity
Party of Nigeria, Fredrick Fasehun,
among others.
However, encomiums and
congratulatory messages poured in
from prominent Nigerian leaders,
especially members of the APC,
who described the victory as
deserving.
Obasanjo, Atiku react
Former President Olusegun
Obasanjo has congratulated Buhari
over his victory at the poll, charging
him to fight corruption and carry
out reforms in different sectors.
Obasanjo, who noted that so much
harm had already been done to
many national institutions
including the military,however,
advised him to be magnanimous in
victory.
He said, “With so much harm
already done to many national
institutions including the military,
which proudly nurtured you and I,
you will have a lot to do on
institution reforms – education,
health care, economy, security,
infrastructure, power, youth
employment, agri-business, oil and
gas, external affairs, cohesiveness
of our nation and ridding our land
of corruption.”
Former Vice-President Atiku
Abubakar also congratulated the
winner, saying the victory
symbolises national rebirth.
He said, “Your victory in the polls,
with votes from across the length
and breadth of our country, bears
witness to the acceptance of not
just our party, the APC, but also your
ideology of justice, fair play and
zero tolerance for corruption as the
bedrock for national rebirth.”
Sultan of Sokoto
The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad
Abubakar, hailed Nigerians for
coming out to peacefully vote in
the presidential and National
Assembly elections.
The Sultan also commended
President Jonathan for calling
Buhari to congratulate him on his
victory at the polls.
He made the comments while
speaking with Channels TV about
the elections.
He said, “I have heard so many
comments from so many people
across the country and some parts
of the world. The elections have
been very peaceful in most part of
the country and I have seen that
the voters and electoral officials
behaved very well and everything
went so smoothly.”
Prominent politicians
Osun State Governor, Rauf
Aregbesola, described the victory
as “the best thing that can happen
to a country that has endured 16
years of misrule at the centre.”
In a statement by his media aide,
Semiu Okanlawon, on Tuesday,
Aregbesola said, “Nigeria has finally
been rescued from the jaws of
death after 16 years of social,
political and economic strains.”
Speaking in a similar vein, Rivers
State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi,
described Buhari’s victory as the
best thing to happen to Nigeria’s
democratic experience and a signal
to the end of the Peoples
Democratic Party at all levels.
Amaechi, who spoke on Tuesday
through his Chief of Staff, Chief Tony
Okocha, explained that the PDP
refused to deliver the goods to
Nigerians for the past 16 years,
promising that Nigerians would
soon begin to enjoy the dividends
of democracy.
He said, “General Buhari’s victory is
no doubt the best thing that has
happened to the whole of our
democratic experience in Nigeria.
Of course, his victory will signal the
end of the PDP at all levels.”
A former National Secretary of the
PDP, Olagunsoye Oyinlola,
described the victory as a huge
victory for democracy and for all
Nigerians.
Oyinlola, a former Osun State
governor, who is also a member of
the Board of Trustees of the APC,
said in a statement on Tuesday that
“the peaceful manner change came
to Nigeria showed the hand of God
in the nation’s affairs.”
Congratulating the President-elect,
Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo
State said the victory signalled a
new dawn in the nation’s polity
Oshiomhole, in a statement signed
by his Chief Press Secretary, Peter
Okhiria, said, “The spread of your
victory across the length and
breadth of the country shows your
national acceptance as the man
Nigeria needs at this critical stage
to reposition her from the 16 years
of misrule of the PDP.”
He added, “Despite the smear
campaigns against your person and
candidature and the attempts to
polarise the country along ethnic
and religious lines, Nigerians made
a bold statement by speaking
through their ballots that you are,
indeed, the President they want at
this time of our national history.”
A former Governor of Osun State,
Isiaka Adeleke, said the victory was
ordained by God, adding that
Buhari’s emergence was the climax
of a political revolution whose time
has come.
Imo State Governor, Rochas
Okorocha, said by the victory he
had been justified for his decision
to be part of the merger that
resulted in the creation of the APC.
Okorocha, who is the Chairman of
APC Governor’s Forum, in a
statement signed by his media
aide, Sam Onwuemeodo, said it
“would have been disastrous for
the lgbo to be excluded in the new
order in Nigeria.”
A former Governor of Ekiti State,
Kayode Fayemi, said the
emergence of Buhari signposted a
new beginning for Nigeria.
Fayemi, who spoke through his
Chief Press Secretary, Olayinka
Oyebode, said, “History has just
been made in our dear country.
Nigerians have spoken. They have
spoken clearly through their votes.
They want a new direction and a
new approach to governance and
the APC government under the able
leadership of General Muhammadu
Buhari owes them this and more.”
A renowned professor of political
economy and former presidential
candidate, Prof. Pat Utomi, said the
Chairman of the Independent
National Electoral Commission, Prof.
Attahiru Jega, and President
Jonathan deserved credit for a
successful conduct of the
presidential election on Saturday.
He said, “This election was won by
the poorest of the poor and unless
the government focuses on
uplifting the poorest of the poor,
then we have missed the road. One
of the ways to do this is to
determine the biggest challenges
that the majority of the Nigerian
people face.”
Northern Governors’ Forum
The Chairman, Northern States
Governors Forum and Governor of
Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, on
Tuesday, congratulated the
President-elect on his electoral
success.
Aliyu, in a statement by his Chief
Press Secretary, Israel Ebije, said
the victory of Buhari should be
seen as victory for Nigeria’s
democracy and the collective
progress of the nation.
Aliyu also hailed President
Jonathan for conceding defeat,
saying history will remember him
for his political maturity.
One dies celebrating in Jos
One person was killed in Bukuru
area of Jos-South Local Government
Area of Plateau State as jubilant
youths celebrated the victory of
Buhari.
One of our correspondents
gathered that the youths trooped
into the streets as soon as news
filtered in at about 5.45 pm that
Jonathan had phoned Buhari to
congratulate him.
An eyewitness said that the victim
died around Kugiya area of Bukuru.
Also, jubilant youths from Gangere
area of Jos-North marched through
Muritala Mohammad Way, singing
and jubilating.
Edo declares holiday
The Edo State Government has
declared today a work-free day to
celebrate the victory of Buhari.
Oshiomhole, in a statement signed
by Okhiria, on Tuesday, also
declared a victory party, which he
said would hold on the same day.
The statement read, “Meanwhile,
the state Governor, Adams
Oshiomhole, invites the people of
the state to a victory party which
will hold at the Oba Ovoranmwen
Square, Benin City, starting from
3pm on Wednesday, April 1.”
Celebration galore
Wild celebrations erupted across
the country on Tuesday with
jubilant youths storming through
cities and towns.
Sagamu, Ijebu Ode
Hundreds of Buhari supporters took
to the streets of Sagamu and Ijebu
Ode on Tuesday to celebrate.
In Sagamu, the party supporters
thronged the party secretariat on
Ewusi Street around 6pm armed
with brooms amidst fanfare to
celebrate Buhari’s victory.
Osogbo
It was celebration galore in Osogbo
as youths also took to the streets.
From Oke-Fia to Ola Iya to Oke
Baale, hundreds of youths sang the
praise of Buhari to high heavens.
Gani Adams, Fasehun,
Adebanjo, Ogunlewe react
Afenifere leader, Chief Ayo
Adebanjo, has hailed the outcome
of the election.
He urged Buhari to prove the
Yoruba elders wrong by adhering
to the tenets of democracy.
Adebanjo, who is a staunch
supporter of President Jonathan,
said the wishes of the people must
be respected.
The 87-year-old said, “I have
nothing personal against Buhari, I
don’t hate the man but I cannot
forget what he did in the past. He
says he is now a democrat but we
did not believe him. But now that
he has won, he must prove us
wrong by being a true democrat.”
Also speaking with one of our
correspondents in a separate
interview, Gani Adams, described
the poll as the will of God.
Adams had promised Jonathan six
million votes and was criticised for
leading a protest in Lagos to drum
support for Jonathan two weeks
ago.
When asked what would become of
the N4bn pipeline contract
awarded to the OPC by the
outgoing Jonathan administration,
he said, “On the issue of the
contract, we are all Nigerians and
we fought for it. I am not an
opportunist, we fought for it and
we are entitled to that contract and
I know Gen. Buhari knows the right
thing to do at the right time.”
He said, “The contract was awarded
to the OPC by the NNPC and I don’t
think a change of personality in
government can stop it.”
However, Fasehun, said Buhari did
not have the power to terminate
the contract.
He said, “The contract was awarded
to the OPC by the NNPC and I don’t
think a change of personality in
government can stop it.”
Also speaking with one of our
correspondents, a former Minister
of Works, Mr. Adeseye Ogunlewe,
urged Buhari, to be fair to all
Nigerians and not to forget his
campaign promises.
Ogunlewe, who is a chieftain of the
PDP in Lagos, described the
elections as a victory for democracy
and Nigerians. He also thanked the
people of Lagos for delivering over
600,000 votes to President
Jonathan.
He said, “Nigerians have spoken
and I congratulate them. Buhari
must be fair to all. He should justify
his victory by making Nigeria better
than he met it. He must also keep
the promises he made to them.”

GOD BLESS AFRICA, GOD BLESS US ALL. AMEN

this victory is a big step for democracy in Nigeria, and in Africa as a whole. congratulations Nigerian s God bless us all and #God bless Nigeria

sunnyga wrote:

this victory is a big step for democracy in Nigeria, and in Africa as a whole. congratulations Nigerian s God bless us all and #God bless Nigeria

Amen

Amen.

Hope

Weldone baba

Ebora owu himself

See mugu way they support jonathan is now rejoicing

Obasanjo no get choice

aneke peter chukwujekwu wrote:

Obasanjo no get choice

hope u too congrat buhari

OLOBE wrote:

aneke peter chukwujekwu wrote:

Obasanjo no get choice

hope u too congrat buhari

how will i congratulate mallam?

Jonathan av done that already

aneke peter chukwujekwu wrote:

OLOBE wrote:

aneke peter chukwujekwu wrote:

Obasanjo no get choice

hope u too congrat buhari

how will i congratulate mallam?

Ote niyeh o

OLOBE wrote:

aneke peter chukwujekwu wrote:

OLOBE wrote:

aneke peter chukwujekwu wrote:

Obasanjo no get choice

hope u too congrat buhari

how will i congratulate mallam?

Ote niyeh o

u avn't see okay.

aneke peter chukwujekwu wrote:

OLOBE wrote:

aneke peter chukwujekwu wrote:

OLOBE wrote:

aneke peter chukwujekwu wrote:

Obasanjo no get choice

hope u too congrat buhari

how will i congratulate mallam?

Ote niyeh o

u avn't see okay.

The best thing to do is to congrat a man of the people

aneke peter chukwujekwu wrote:

See mugu way they support jonathan is now rejoicing

Him no support jonah o, are u listen to news @ all ? It was b4 he supported him b4 he now knew jona have nothin upstairs & baba oba back of immediately he knew.

OLOBE wrote:

aneke peter chukwujekwu wrote:

Obasanjo no get choice

hope u too congrat buhari

Buuuuuuuuaaaaaaah

aneke peter chukwujekwu wrote:

OLOBE wrote:

aneke peter chukwujekwu wrote:

Obasanjo no get choice

hope u too congrat buhari

how will i congratulate mallam?

Is mallam not a human ?