Congratulatory messages continued to pour in for
President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday over his victory in the April
presidential election.
Among those who sent messages of goodwill are the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu; Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Nigeria Labour Congress and Nigerians in the Diaspora.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Paul Odenyi, described Jonathan’s victory as historic and a manifestation of the power of the people to elect their leaders.
Ekweremadu urged other presidential candidates to accept the result of the election in the spirit of love for Nigeria, given the good spread of votes for all contestants across the country.
The NGF, in a statement signed by its Director-General, Mr. Asishana Okauru, said it was elated that a winner had emerged.
It said was historic as it was one of the freest and most keenly contested since Nigeria’s return to democracy 12 years ago.
The statement read, “While we congratulate the winner and urge the president-elect to be magnanimous in victory, we kindly urge the other contestants to be gallant and gracious in defeat.
“We also plead that all the contestants join the president-elect in the development challenges facing our great country.”
In the congratulatory statement jointly signed by the President and Acting General Secretary Mr. Abdulwaheed Omar and Mr. Owei Lakemfa, respectively, the NLC said one way of doing this was to invest in the welfare of the citizenry.
The congress stated that such investment was preferable to the rigid ‘adherence to the so-called market forces.’
It listed mass education and mass employment of the people as other challenges, and added that the New Minimum Wage of N18,000 and the General Wage Review were immediate tasks needed to reduce poverty among the populace.
“Now that the presidential campaigns and election are over and winners with a clear mandate have emerged, it is time for the country to get back to the more demanding and serious task of governance,” it said.
The congress urged the defeated candidates to concede defeat and congratulate the winners and also contribute to national development rather than become symbols of intolerance and strife.
The NLC also congratulated the Nigerian populace “for exercising without fear their fundamental right to elect leaders of their choice.
“We also want to commend the Independent National Electoral Commission for being truly independent and giving the country one of the fairest, freest and most democratic elections.”
It, however, condemned the spate of violence by some aggrieved persons and called for calm across the country.
The NLC also called on all Nigerians to participate en masse and peacefully in the remaining elections.
Various Nigerian groups in the United Kingdom on Tuesday said the election of Jonathan would reposition the country on the global scene.
President of Association of British Nigerian Law Enforcement Officers, Ms. Yemisi Jenkins, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, in London said the success of the election was an indication that Nigerians were capable of doing the right thing.
Jenkins, who congratulated Jonathan on his victory said she was hopeful that he would deliver on his campaign promises.
He gave his condolences to families of the victims of the violence in some parts of the country, adding that the new government must take the security of the people as its highest priority.
In his remarks, Chairman of NIDO (Europe), Mr Alistair Soyode, said with this achievement, the country would soon become the new choice destination in Africa for investment and human capacity development.
“Our hope turns now to the President to pool all parties, personalities and policies together as a democrats to develop the country.
“Gone are the days of appointing politicians to sensitive ministerial positions without relevant experience to manage and govern such a diverse, intelligent and talented people,’’ Soyode said.
President of Association of Nigerian Academics in the UK, Mr. Adedamola Aminu, said the election of Jonathan was a boost to the academia.
The President of the National Association of Yoruba Descendants in South Africa, Prince Adesanmi, told NAN in Johannesburg that Jonathan had the onerous task of proving himself as many had shunned voting along party lines to give him victory.
A medical practitioner in Johannesburg, Dr. Abiodun Aro, said the victory of Jonathan was one which should give him enough opportunity to put the nation’s power sector in order in line with his promise.
“He has no excuse not to deliver on the power issue now Nigerians, while wishing him well, will also want to see him intensify the fight against corruption in the country,” he said.
Aro tasked Jonathan to pool Nigerian brains across the world and promote more research which could help develop the country.
“I pray God will grant him the needed courage and strength to move the nation forward,” Aro said.
A lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Prof Vincent Nmehielle, said with Jonathan’s victory, all eyes would now be on him “to be a man of his own.”
He said Jonathan must justify the confidence the people had given him by voting for him.
Nmehielle commended Jonathan for allowing free and fair elections in the country.
By Olusola Fabiyi, Abuja Courtesy Of: Punch
Among those who sent messages of goodwill are the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu; Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Nigeria Labour Congress and Nigerians in the Diaspora.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Paul Odenyi, described Jonathan’s victory as historic and a manifestation of the power of the people to elect their leaders.
Ekweremadu urged other presidential candidates to accept the result of the election in the spirit of love for Nigeria, given the good spread of votes for all contestants across the country.
The NGF, in a statement signed by its Director-General, Mr. Asishana Okauru, said it was elated that a winner had emerged.
It said was historic as it was one of the freest and most keenly contested since Nigeria’s return to democracy 12 years ago.
The statement read, “While we congratulate the winner and urge the president-elect to be magnanimous in victory, we kindly urge the other contestants to be gallant and gracious in defeat.
“We also plead that all the contestants join the president-elect in the development challenges facing our great country.”
In the congratulatory statement jointly signed by the President and Acting General Secretary Mr. Abdulwaheed Omar and Mr. Owei Lakemfa, respectively, the NLC said one way of doing this was to invest in the welfare of the citizenry.
The congress stated that such investment was preferable to the rigid ‘adherence to the so-called market forces.’
It listed mass education and mass employment of the people as other challenges, and added that the New Minimum Wage of N18,000 and the General Wage Review were immediate tasks needed to reduce poverty among the populace.
“Now that the presidential campaigns and election are over and winners with a clear mandate have emerged, it is time for the country to get back to the more demanding and serious task of governance,” it said.
The congress urged the defeated candidates to concede defeat and congratulate the winners and also contribute to national development rather than become symbols of intolerance and strife.
The NLC also congratulated the Nigerian populace “for exercising without fear their fundamental right to elect leaders of their choice.
“We also want to commend the Independent National Electoral Commission for being truly independent and giving the country one of the fairest, freest and most democratic elections.”
It, however, condemned the spate of violence by some aggrieved persons and called for calm across the country.
The NLC also called on all Nigerians to participate en masse and peacefully in the remaining elections.
Various Nigerian groups in the United Kingdom on Tuesday said the election of Jonathan would reposition the country on the global scene.
President of Association of British Nigerian Law Enforcement Officers, Ms. Yemisi Jenkins, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, in London said the success of the election was an indication that Nigerians were capable of doing the right thing.
Jenkins, who congratulated Jonathan on his victory said she was hopeful that he would deliver on his campaign promises.
He gave his condolences to families of the victims of the violence in some parts of the country, adding that the new government must take the security of the people as its highest priority.
In his remarks, Chairman of NIDO (Europe), Mr Alistair Soyode, said with this achievement, the country would soon become the new choice destination in Africa for investment and human capacity development.
“Our hope turns now to the President to pool all parties, personalities and policies together as a democrats to develop the country.
“Gone are the days of appointing politicians to sensitive ministerial positions without relevant experience to manage and govern such a diverse, intelligent and talented people,’’ Soyode said.
President of Association of Nigerian Academics in the UK, Mr. Adedamola Aminu, said the election of Jonathan was a boost to the academia.
The President of the National Association of Yoruba Descendants in South Africa, Prince Adesanmi, told NAN in Johannesburg that Jonathan had the onerous task of proving himself as many had shunned voting along party lines to give him victory.
A medical practitioner in Johannesburg, Dr. Abiodun Aro, said the victory of Jonathan was one which should give him enough opportunity to put the nation’s power sector in order in line with his promise.
“He has no excuse not to deliver on the power issue now Nigerians, while wishing him well, will also want to see him intensify the fight against corruption in the country,” he said.
Aro tasked Jonathan to pool Nigerian brains across the world and promote more research which could help develop the country.
“I pray God will grant him the needed courage and strength to move the nation forward,” Aro said.
A lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Prof Vincent Nmehielle, said with Jonathan’s victory, all eyes would now be on him “to be a man of his own.”
He said Jonathan must justify the confidence the people had given him by voting for him.
Nmehielle commended Jonathan for allowing free and fair elections in the country.
By Olusola Fabiyi, Abuja Courtesy Of: Punch
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