…Hails INEC
From Maduabuchi Nmeribeh
Elder statesman and Second Republic Political Adviser to the late President Shehu Shagari, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, has advised Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Chief Peter Obi and Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso to accept defeat in the just concluded presidential election and congratulate the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Tinubu who stood for the presidential election on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC) was declared winner at the wee hours of Wednesday by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
INEC records indicated that Tinubu defeated the major contestants: Atiku of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Obi of the Labour Party (LP) and Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).
However, 98 years old Yakasai told Journalists on Wednesday that: “Events in Nigeria leading to the just conducted general elections is relatively calmer and in peaceful atmosphere devoid of rancor and disharmony.
“I must congratulate Nigerians on the peaceful election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“I also commend the Federal Government for giving INEC all the necessary support without which this success wouldn’t have been possible.
“To the umpire, I congratulate INEC for the wonderful elections and their resolve to ensure that the will of the majority of the people is always respected and upheld. I charge them to do more during the forthcoming Gubernatorial and state assemblies elections.
“To those who contested and lost, I urge you all in the spirit of democratic tenants and our National interest to embrace the outcome and congratulate the winner. As in every election there has to be a winner and a looser.
“Last but not the least, my call is to the winner , Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I am sending my congratulations to you for this well deserved victory and I urge you to run an all inclusive Government that will give every Nigerian from all parts of the country a sense of belonging.
“This election has shown Democracy is evolving and consolidating in Nigeria and I urge the President-elect to re-introduce the strategy of National Development Plan which is universally accepted as a panacea for Nation Building.”
Yakasai further reminded Nigerians that: “I am a Nigerian born at Yakasai quarters in Kano State, Nigeria, in 1925 some 98-years-ago according to the Gregorian calendar, and over 100 years if we go by the Islamic lunar calendar.
“I was born 11 years after the 1914 amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorates into Nigeria.
“I have, therefore, lived through and witnessed the torments of the colonial rule, the suffering of the Second World War, the agony of the military rule in our country, fought for independence for our country and the beginning of pluralism of democracy in Nigeria.
“Throughout my years on earth, I have participated in numerous movements for self-determination, freedom and entrenchment of democracy in Africa, including Nigeria.
“I am a participant in the 1958 All African Peoples Conference in Accra Ghana, where African freedom charter was adopted.
“I had participated in many international conferences in Africa, Europe, Asia and Americas. I know the value of democratic principles of freedom of choice, pluralism of opinion, freedom of association and participation.
“I have witnessed the many political crises and turmoil in this country, including our civil war and its devastating impact on the ordinary people and our national unity.
“I can, therefore, make bold to say that anybody in my position would not like to see a repeat of these unfortunate tragedies.”
