PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has felicitated President-elect Bola Tinubu as he clocks 71 today, March 27.
In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President restated his belief in Tinubu’s capacity to lead Nigeria.
“The President joins members of the President-elect’s family, especially his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, business partners and political associates in celebrating the remarkable age, heralded with many years of experience and achievements in the private and public sectors, which prepared him for the historic win on February 25, 2023.
“President Buhari believes Asiwaju’s warmth, friendliness and generosity has set the pace for a network of friends, home and abroad, that will shape his presidency with the requisite expertise to guide the economy, and consolidate on the investments of past leaders, particularly in people-first development and infrastructure,” part of the statement reads.
Buhari argued that Tinubu’s political pedigree from the 90’s, his active role in party politics, having been elected senator and later the governor of Lagos State, and his consistent involvement in the structure of leadership at the executive and legislative levels for many years, will serve as an asset for good and effective governance.
Tinubu’s birthday coincided with the ongoing countdown to his inauguration rally at the Unity Fountain in Abuja.
The rally began on Monday, March 20, to oppose a similar gathering by supporters of the Labour Party presidential candidate in the February 25 election, Peter Obi, who claimed the former Anambra State governor won the election.
Briefing newsmen at the Tinubu rally, Olusegun Mayegun, a former President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), said, “We are not going to allow anyone to intimidate or frustrate him (Tinubu). We will confront them with everything that we have.”
Tosin Adeyanju, Secretary, Support Group Coordinators for North-Central said, “We are here to begin the countdown and remind Nigerians that they should not listen to any detractors or enemies of the Nigerian people. The election has come and gone, and is the most credible election in the history of this country.”
The ICIR reported how the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the presidential election winner and how observers, including the European Union faulted the exercise.
Apart from the Labour Party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also claimed its candidate, Atiku Abubakar won the election.
Both Obi and Atiku have filed petitions before the presidential election tribunal to challenge Tinubu’s victory.
Marcus bears the light, and he beams it everywhere. He's a good governance and decent society advocate. He's The ICIR Reporter of the Year 2022 and has been the organisation's News Editor since September 2022. Contact him via email @ [email protected].