The Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has vowed to reclaim the mandate given to him and his running mate, Yusuf Datti-Ahmed.
At a news briefing today, March 2, in Abuja, Peter Obi said: “We will explore all legal and peaceful option to reclaim our mandate. We won the election and we will prove it to Nigeria.
He said that they are committed to a new Nigeria.
“We will work for that new Nigeria that is possible,” he said. “Datti and I remain committed to that new Nigeria.”
He thanked his followers known as ‘Obidients,’, asking them not to be deterred by the outcome of the polls.
Peter Obi said the poll did not meet the minimum standard for a free and fair election, adding that the election will go down as the most controversial election conducted in Nigeria.
In attendance at the briefing is the party’s National Chairman, Julius Abure as well as the Director-General of Obi’s presidential campaign, Akin Osuntokun.
His anger was palpable. The invectives and arrogance he filled his mouth with traversed the landscape causing some form of trepidation amongst chicken hearted Nigerians.
As soon as it was announced that Bola Ahmed Tinubu had picked Kashim Shettima as his running mate, the former Secretary to the government of the federation, Babachir Lawan (the grasscutter) lost his cool and went gaga, promising to teach the APC a lesson.
His grouse was that the Muslim/Muslim ticket had altered his bigoted and self serving thinking, and as such, he will lead the Christian population of the North in particular and their brethren in other parts of the country in general to torpedo whatever success the sorry was angling to get.
He was joined by former speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara in quitting the APC and pledging to teach the party a lesson. True to their promise, the two men went ahead to openly organize all manner of meetings during which they mobilized their brothers – all in an attempt to incite the Christian population to reject the Muslim/Muslim ticket, by which they intend to prove to Nigerians that a single faith ticket could just not fly in Nigeria. While at it, Babachir was unapologetic in his crusade to prove a point, that what the APC had done was dead on arrival. He went about it spicing his speeches with hates and tantrums, promising to bring down the roof on the whole country.
He voyaged into the Labor party while his brother Yakubu Dogara found his way into the PDP, in a clear deliberate plan not to put their eggs in one basket.
As the indices are currently showing, their plans have come to naught and gone up in smoke. The pack of religious cards they bandied about came crashing down before their very eyes, as they are being forced to learn the lessons of their lives the hard way. Instead of fulfilling their promise of teaching the APC a lesson, they are now running around like rain beaten chickens and with their tails in between their legs, cocooning their faces in the shame of their lives.
They have been taught a lesson, that the numbers they think they have are merely in their jaundiced imagination. They have now learnt that they are inconsequential in the political calculus of Nigeria. They have been forced to perish that naughty and arrogant feeling that they have any power to force political parties to pet them and covet their support. They now know that, whatever consideration or patronage they used to enjoy in the past, was merely out of the desire to spread goodies and not because they are, by political strength, deserving of them. Unfortunately, Babachir thought that his appointment as SGF by President Muhammadu Buhari was due to some clout and relevance of his place of birth, his religion and the indispensability of his contributions in attaining political victory.
Babachir deceived himself and sadly cajoled some likeminded fools to follow him blindfold into a ditch of infamy and irrelevance.
And until they retrace their misguided steps by reading the compass without sentiment, they have successfully boxed themselves into a very tight corner. From thence on, Babachir and his bigoted ilk will become lepers and out of reckoning for life.
A former presidential aide, Reno Omokri has cautioned fellow Christians in Nigeria tp discard the approach they deployed in the just concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections in the country.
Omokri, reacting to the outcome of the Saturday, February 25 Presidential election across the country, said that approaching the election through religious lines did not help Christians, who according to him, turned out for the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi.
“The Islamic (Muslim) votes were divided into three: for Atiku, Tinubu and Kwankwaso. The Christian votes were united behind Obi.
“Yet, look at the result! No matter the provocation, Christians must NEVER allow future elections to be about religion. It won’t serve us well!”
Peter Obi won in one Southwest state, and got the necessary 25% in other Southwestern states, and in some Northern states. Yet, both Waziri Atiku and Asiwaju Tinubu could not get 25% in any Southeastern state. Not even one. When the dust has settled, such voting patterns, which in themselves speak volumes, will strengthen the alliance between the Southwest with the North in future elections. At that point, there will be complaints of marginalisation from some quarters. But actions have consequences. Unfortunately, some people are very sensitive to how the behaviour of others affects them, but are too emotional to understand how their own actions are perceived by others. And unfortunately, if you draw their attention to this, insults, rather than a reasonable discussion, will follow.”
OUR ANALYSIS:
February 25 presented an interesting scenario: the Presidential election, for the first time in the history of Nigeria was a clear battle between Muslims and Christians thanks to the design of the Church. 98% of Christians across the country voted enblock for Peter Obi in addition to 99% Igbo votes, plus 90% ENDSARS violent youth and 80% workers under Labour unions (all combined to be less than 4 million). But Muslims divided their votes into three: for Tinubu (over 8 million), Atiku (over 6 million) and Kwankwaso ( over 1 million), combined to be over 15 million Muslims). Scientifically therefore, the population of Muslim voters is over 15 million while the combined population of Christian/Igbo/youth/workers is just above 3 million. Why would Christians expose their minority status to the whole world just because of pot of porridge?
According to the final results read out by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, Tinubu polled a total of 8,794,726 to defeat his closest rivals and candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), who scored 6,984, 520 and 6,101,533 respectively.
Tinubu, who is former Lagos State governor, also fulfilled the 25 percent votes from 24 States as stipulated in the Electoral Act 2022 as amended.
First Lady, Mrs. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari has attributed the success of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Saturday, February 25 Presidential election to his political dexterity and foresight.
In a congratulatory message to Asiwaju Tinubu today, March 1, the First Lady said also that the President-elect has an additional attribute of good intention to carry all Nigerians along, “irrespective of our diversity.”
She expressed confidence that Tinubu would lead the country into the future envisioned by the forefathers of Nigeria.
Mrs. Aisha Buhari also congratulated the Vice President-elect, Senator Kashim Shettima, saying: “I equally congratulate the wife of the President-elect, the incoming First Lady, and a grassroots politician, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
“I have no doubt that Nigerian women will get a good deal during your tenure.”
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has acknowledged that the President-elect, under the All Progressives Congress (APC) had, over the years, demonstrated a consistent fidelity to progressive and welfarist ideals, and an ability to build bridges across several divides. Professor Osinbajo swore that such attributes are needed, especially at this time, to reach out to disaffected sections of the society and to meet the inspirational expectations of the young people who have shown such a strong desire to impact the democratic process in a positive way.
In a message congratulating Asiwaju Tinubu and his Vice President-elect, Senator Kashim Shettima, the Vice President expressed strong belief that Tinubu and Shettima would not allow whatever setbacks they may have experienced to truncate their strong desire to determine the future course of the national journey.
“Through thick and thin, we must all remain focused on the objective of birthing the Nigeria of our dreams. “I pray that Almighty God will help you to fulfil the progressive mandate of our Party, as well as your various plans to improve the security, welfare and happiness of all Nigerians.”
The President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Vice President-elect, Senator Kashim Shettima were in Daura, Katsina State today, March 1, to formally present their certificates of return to President Muhammadu Buhari, after winning the February 25 Presidential election held across the country.
The election was conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the result concluded today, March 1, at about 4am.
The certificates of return are symptomatic of the victory of Tinubu and Shettima in the presidential election as issued by the INEC.
Speaking to newsmen after presenting the certificate to the President, Tinubu described defeat as provocative, which the opponents should bear.
“This is the largest democracy in Africa. We could not have done any better. We are lucky, there is no accident and no matter how provocative a defeat is, we have to tolerate it if we are democrats. We have a nation to build.”
He said that he and his second-in-command had gone to present the certificates of return to President Buhari, recognising that the President is the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on whose platform he and Shettima contested the election.
Receiving the President-elect his Vice, President Buhari described the election as “phenomenal election result.”
Buhari said that leaders and embers of the party are very lucky because there were no problems.
“No blood shed, no accidents. We have God Almighty to thank for this.”
He expressed happiness that Nigerians have chosen the APC and its candidates, saying that by such action their desire for the momentum of development under the administration would be intensified.
The President commended the Party supporters and the Presidential Campaign Council for the historic victory which he said would never have been possible without discipline, commitment and hard work.
The election winner and his deputy were accompanied to Daura by the Chairman of the APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, the founding chairman, Chief Bisi Akande as well as the Governors of Katsina, Kaduna, Ebonyi, Zamfara, Lagos and Jigawa.
Other were the Governors of Kebbi, Niger, Plateau, Ogun and the former Governors of Borno, Ali Modu Sheriff and that of Zamfara, Abdulaziz Yari.
There were also Ministers of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare and Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
Also on the entourage were Alhaji Kashim Imam, Wale Tinubu, the Deputy Governor of Katsina State, Mannir Yakubu and the Speaker of the Parliament of Kaduna state Yusuf Ibrahim Zailani.
I found it all joy pening down this letter at this very point when results of the 2023 Presidential election is being collated. You have exhibited unprecedented honour by keeping to agreement, coming swiftly to rescue Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the jaw of Lion, false prophets, betrayers, cowards, religion bigots. You honestly did prove your mettle.
In the build up to the 2023 General Elections, the narrative out there was that the North will disappoint South West, they cannot leave their son to vote a Yoruba man, it was an everyday song on their lips especially on social media, my fear became palpable, but my experience in the past with you makes me trudge on.
One of my friends from Southern Kaduna shared a post on his wall “”Instead of Tinubu to win, make trumpet just blow make all of us go rest.’ And I commented thus “Democracy is a contest, the majority take the lead while the minority register their impact ” His replied was again troubling, I fidgeted, he captured it ” Femi Ogunshola, you will always remember what I told you….”a typical Hausa man will never hand over power to you.” This weaken me but I bodly ignored.
So many unrefuted stories were told about you, with names that truly didn’t define the value you hold so dearly, possibly because you aren’t given to noise on social media. You believed much in action than noise. Those noise makers called you betrayer, never to be trusted, you cannot handover power to the south among others, it was more of speculation than real.
But I found a defence for you, the example you exhibited during the late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, the Presidential candidate of Social Democratic Party (SDP) a southerner and a true Yoruba man who you massively voted for to defeat your very own, late Alhaji Bashir Tofa, the presidential candidate of National Republican Convention (NRC) in his Kano base. MKO won the 1993 general elections with a landslide courtesy of your unalloyed support.
Yes, Abiola lost in the South East but the North came to the rescue, unfortunately Sen. Aurthur Nzeribe (now deceased) from Imo, set the pace for the annulment of his election, he was used to scuttle the exercise via his Association for Better Nigeria (ABN). Nigeria did not recover from the impasse.
In trying to drive home their point, those social media noise makers always reminded us that event has overtaken the MKO scenerio, that anyone who trust the North does that at his peril. But I never doubted your ability to stand by your word to reciprocate the gesture extended by the South West with the formation of the All Progressives Congress that saw to the emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari having tried three times failing.
My friend, Muhammed Abbas from Katsina State, Daura LGA, an Atiku man was the first to congratulate me even when the results of the election were still being counted. I told him “I love the northerners more.” He however gave a not too good verdict about President Muhammadu Buhari’s for the poor showing of APC in Katsina
In all, northerners are trusted people; they pay good for good and not what the social media warlord want you to believe. Northerners are men of honour. This election could not have been won by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu without Northerners reciprocating the gesture of 2015 general elections that saw Buhari defeating an incumbent.
This is the way to go and you have proved naysayers wrong that your honours are intact, people can call you names but you remain true to your words.
The President-elect for the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has said that with him in the front, an era of renewed hope has just begun.
In his acceptance speech this morning, March 1, Asiwaju Tinubu, who was elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said: “today, you (Nigerians) have given me the greatest honour you can bestow on one man.
“In return, I will give you my utmost as your next President and Commander-in-chief. Peace, unity and prosperity shall be the cornerstones of the society we intend to build. When you gaze upon what we shall accomplish in the coming years, you shall speak with pride at being a Nigerian.”
The President-elect acknowledged that some Presidential candidates who contested with him would find it hard to accept the election results, saying that it is their right to seek legal recourse. “What is neither right nor defensible is for anybody to resort to violence. Any challenge to the electoral outcome should be made in a court of law, and not in the streets.”
Read the full text of the acceptance speech:
I am profoundly humbled that you have elected me to serve as the 16th President of our beloved Republic. This is a shining moment in the life of any man and affirmation of our democratic existence. From my heart, I say thank you.
Whether you are Batified, Atikulated, Obidient, Kwankwasiyya, or have any other political affiliation, you voted for a better, more hopeful nation and I thank you for your participation and dedication to our democracy.
You decided to place your trust in the democratic vision of a Nigeria founded on shared prosperity and one nurtured by the ideals of unity, justice, peace and tolerance. Renewed hope has dawned in Nigeria.
We commend INEC for running a free and fair election. The lapses that did occur were relatively few in number and were immaterial to the final outcome. With each cycle of elections, we steadily perfect this process so vital to our democratic life.
Today, Nigeria stands tall as the giant of Africa. It shines even brighter as the continent’s biggest democracy.
I thank all who supported my campaign. From President Buhari who adeptly led my campaign as its chairman, to my Vice Presidential Candidate, Senator Kashim Shettima.
To the progressive governors of our party and this nation, to the party leadership, to our loyal party members. I owe you a debt of gratitude. To the entire campaign organisation, I thank you sincerely.
I thank my loving wife and dear family whose support was ceaseless and inspiring. Without you, this victory would not be possible.
I am grateful to Almighty God. By His mercy, I was born a son of Nigeria and through His sublime purpose, I find myself the victor of this election. May He grant me the wisdom and courage to lead the nation to the greatness He alone has destined for it.
Finally, I thank the Nigerian people for their abiding belief in our democracy. I shall be a fair leader to all Nigerians. I will be in tune with your aspirations, charge up your energies and harness your talents to deliver a nation that we can be proud of.
To my fellow candidates, former VP Atiku, former governor Kwankwaso, former governor Obi and all others, I extend the hand of friendship. This was a competitive, high-spirited campaign.
You have my utmost respect.
Political competition must now give way to political conciliation and inclusive governance.
During the election, you may have been my opponent but you were never my enemy. In my heart, you are my brothers.
Still, I know some candidates will be hard put to accept the election results. It is your right to seek legal recourse. What is neither right nor defensible is for anybody to resort to violence. Any challenge to the electoral outcome should be made in a court of law, and not in the streets.
I also ask my supporters to let peace reign and tensions fade. We ran a principled, peaceful and progressive campaign. The aftermath of our campaign must be as benign.
Yes, there are divisions amongst us that should not exist. Many people are uncertain, angry and hurt; I reach out to every one of you. Let the better aspects of our humanity step forward at this fateful moment. Let us begin to heal and bring calm to our nation.
Now, to you, the young people of this country, I hear you loud and clear. I understand your pains, your yearnings for good governance, a functional economy and a safe nation that protects you and your future.
I am aware that for many of you, Nigeria has become a place of abiding challenges, limiting your ability to see a bright future for yourselves.
Remodelling our precious national home requires the harmonious efforts of all of us, especially the youth. Working together, we shall move this nation as never before.
My running mate, Vice President-elect Shettima, and I understand the challenges ahead. More importantly, we also understand and deeply value the talent and innate goodness of you, the Nigerian people. We pledge to listen and to do the difficult things, the big deeds, that put us on the path of irreversible progress. Hold us firmly to account, but please give us a chance first.
Together, we shall build a brighter and more productive society for today, tomorrow and for years to come.
Today, you have given me the greatest honour you can bestow on one man.
In return, I will give you my utmost as your next President and Commander-in-chief. Peace, unity and prosperity shall be the cornerstones of the society we intend to build. When you gaze upon what we shall accomplish in the coming years, you shall speak with pride at being a Nigerian.
President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the Presidential-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who contested the February 25 Presidential election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement today, March 1, by his spokesman, Garba Shehu reacting to the results just announced, President Buhari said: “I congratulate His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his victory. Elected by the people, he is the best person for the job. I shall now work with him and his team to ensure an orderly handover of power.
“The election was Africa’s largest democratic exercise. In a region that has undergone backsliding and military coups in recent years, this election demonstrates democracy’s continued relevance and capability to deliver for the people it serves.
“Within Nigeria, the results reveal democracy’s ripening in our country. Never has the electoral map shifted so drastically in one cycle. In the presidential elections, states in all regions across the nation changed colour. Some amongst you may have noticed my home state amongst them. The winning candidate did not carry his own home state either. That happens during a competitive election. Votes and those that cast them cannot be taken for granted. Each must be earned. Competition is good for our democracy. There is no doubt the people’s decision has been rendered in the results we look at today.
“That is not to say the exercise was without fault. For instance, there were technical problems with electronic transmission of the results. Of course, there will be areas that need work to bring further transparency and credibility to the voting procedure. However, none of the issues registered represent a challenge to the freeness and fairness of the elections.
“I know some politicians and candidates may not agree with this view. That too is fine. If any candidate believes they can prove the fraud they claim is committed against them, then bring forward the evidence. If they cannot, then we must conclude that the election was indeed the people’s will – no matter how hard that may be for the losers to accept. If they feel the need to challenge, please take it to the courts, not to the streets.
“However, to do the latter means they are not doing it in the interest of the people, but rather to inflame, to put people in harm’s way and all for personal, selfish gains.
“After a degree of polarization that necessarily accompanies any election, it is now time to come together and act responsibly. I call on all candidates to remember the peace pledge they signed just days before the election. Do not undermine the credibility of INEC. Let us now move forward as one. The people have spoken.”
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who has just been pronounced President-elect on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), for the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has thanked those who contested the February 25 election for participating their dedication to the nation’s democracy.
Reacting to the announcement by the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, declaring him President- elect at about 4am today, March 1, Tinubu said: “whether you are Batified or Atikulated, Obidients, Kwankwasiyya or have any other political affiliation, you voted and struggled for a better Nigeria, more hopeful nation and I thank you for you participation and dedication to our democracy.
“You decided to place your trust in the democratic vision of a Nigerian founded on a shared prosperity and one nurtured by the ideas of unity, justice, peace and tolerance.”
Turning to his wife, a Senator, the President-elect said: “o my lovely wife, Oluremi Tinubu, you the Senators should not expect her back. She’s going to become my housewife and my first lady. Enough of lending of the other room.”
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Babachir: Teaching The Bigot Lesson Of His Life, By Yakubu Ahmed-BK
His anger was palpable. The invectives and arrogance he filled his mouth with traversed the landscape causing some form of trepidation amongst chicken hearted Nigerians.
As soon as it was announced that Bola Ahmed Tinubu had picked Kashim Shettima as his running mate, the former Secretary to the government of the federation, Babachir Lawan (the grasscutter) lost his cool and went gaga, promising to teach the APC a lesson.
His grouse was that the Muslim/Muslim ticket had altered his bigoted and self serving thinking, and as such, he will lead the Christian population of the North in particular and their brethren in other parts of the country in general to torpedo whatever success the sorry was angling to get.
He was joined by former speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara in quitting the APC and pledging to teach the party a lesson. True to their promise, the two men went ahead to openly organize all manner of meetings during which they mobilized their brothers – all in an attempt to incite the Christian population to reject the Muslim/Muslim ticket, by which they intend to prove to Nigerians that a single faith ticket could just not fly in Nigeria. While at it, Babachir was unapologetic in his crusade to prove a point, that what the APC had done was dead on arrival. He went about it spicing his speeches with hates and tantrums, promising to bring down the roof on the whole country.
He voyaged into the Labor party while his brother Yakubu Dogara found his way into the PDP, in a clear deliberate plan not to put their eggs in one basket.
As the indices are currently showing, their plans have come to naught and gone up in smoke. The pack of religious cards they bandied about came crashing down before their very eyes, as they are being forced to learn the lessons of their lives the hard way. Instead of fulfilling their promise of teaching the APC a lesson, they are now running around like rain beaten chickens and with their tails in between their legs, cocooning their faces in the shame of their lives.
They have been taught a lesson, that the numbers they think they have are merely in their jaundiced imagination. They have now learnt that they are inconsequential in the political calculus of Nigeria. They have been forced to perish that naughty and arrogant feeling that they have any power to force political parties to pet them and covet their support. They now know that, whatever consideration or patronage they used to enjoy in the past, was merely out of the desire to spread goodies and not because they are, by political strength, deserving of them. Unfortunately, Babachir thought that his appointment as SGF by President Muhammadu Buhari was due to some clout and relevance of his place of birth, his religion and the indispensability of his contributions in attaining political victory.
Babachir deceived himself and sadly cajoled some likeminded fools to follow him blindfold into a ditch of infamy and irrelevance.
And until they retrace their misguided steps by reading the compass without sentiment, they have successfully boxed themselves into a very tight corner. From thence on, Babachir and his bigoted ilk will become lepers and out of reckoning for life.