The President-elect, Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday, advised incoming governor-elects and lawmaker-elects to embrace their opponents and supporters to build a unified Nigeria.
While congratulating the victors of Saturday’s gubernatorial and State Houses of Assembly elections, Tinubu said it was vital for the winners and losers to commence the process of healing.
According to the former Lagos State governor, the election is important to the development and sustainability of democracy and democratic administration at the state level.
In a statement on Tuesday, Tinubu stated that solidifying democratic government at the sub-national level would bring greater development and better quality of life to the public.
To guarantee the populace benefits in terms of dividends of democracy and good government, the President-elect advised the newly elected politicians to initiate the healing process and welcome their adversaries in the elections.
“Indeed, the elections are finished. The people have voted to pick their governors and state lawmakers that will serve them for the next four years. The moment for leadership and governance is now upon us.
“In a democracy, the majority would get their way but that majority must not prohibit the minority from having their voice. As democrats, we have to preserve free speech. Winners must be gracious and those who did not win should have a wide heart for tolerance and respect for the larger good of the country
“As the elected, the only way to justify the faith and confidence of the people and the mandate placed in us is to devote ourselves to the service of the people. We must all labour carefully and earnestly to make life better for the people. As elected leaders, we have no other job but to be burden-bearers for the populace and ensure they have a better life than we promised throughout the campaigns.
“We must take immediate efforts to unify the people; those who voted for us and those who did not. We must advocate the healing process by embracing the opponents and their supporters. As I have mentioned earlier, the time for politicking is gone. Now is the time for nation-building, a responsibility beyond one man or a part of the population. 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 depend on as we all unite together, in the unity of purpose and fresh hope for, the advancement of our great nation and loving people.
The former Lagos governor also criticized what he characterized as physical and verbal attacks perpetrated during the elections, saying the events are unacceptable and contradictory to democratic culture.
He remarked, “Elections should be a celebration of our developing democracy and freedom of choice and ought not to be periods of mourning. I am especially disturbed by examples of racial insults, which are the potential of producing unnecessary mischaracterisation recorded in certain regions.
“My call is for us to rise beyond our differences, which, in truth, are fewer than the cherished links that bind us together as a people irrespective of the circumstances of our births.
“As former governor of Lagos State, I can witness the power in our diversity and unity. As your President-elect, it is that spirit of inclusion we fostered in Lagos that I plan to transfer into national administration so that together we may reach our greatest potential.”
