Declaring Buhari winner of the last weekend’s presidential election, the chairman of INEC and returning officer of the polls, Prof. Attahiru Jega announced that with a total votes of 15,424,921 and having won in 21 states, the APC candidate has fulfilled the constitutional provisions and is duly elected. Buhari won majority in 21 states and 25 percent in 27 states.
There were people and organisations that predicted that the nation was on the cusp of change...
LEADERSHIP’s reportage, analyses and prognoses of the presidential elections have been spot-on.
The facts are clear. Results of the presidential polls indicated that the APC candidate won in the two largest zones – North West and South West. Buhari also enjoyed wider popularity than his arch-rival President Goodluck Jonathan, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the North East zone.
Jonathan clinched the South South and South East.
As things stand, the Daura-born retired general is marching to the seat of power in Aso Rock Villa. Try as PDP might to put a spanner in the works, the time appears ripe for Change.
‘Orubebe made a fool of himself’
Jonathan’s statesmanlike disposition contrasts sharply with the disgraceful conduct of former minister of Niger Delta Affairs and the PDP agent at the collation centre, Mr Godsday Orubebe, who almost disrupted the peaceful collation and announcement at the International Conference Centre, venue of the exercise.
The spokesperson of the APC presidential campaign organisation, Garba Shehu, in a statement, denounced “the bizarre show of shame by Orubebe.”
He said: “As disgraceful as the action by Orubebe was this morning, it typifies the kind of thing Nigerians should expect from the PDP and its agents, in an expression of their desperation and pent-up frustrations with the popular decisions of Nigerians in the March 28 presidential and National Assembly elections.”
Orubebe had seized the microphone at the collation hall to disparage INEC chairman, Professor Jega, as the announcement of presidential election results from different states of Nigeria was ongoing.
Orubebe had angrily shouted at Jega: “We have lost confidence in what you are doing. You are tribalistic. You are selective… We don’t believe in you anymore. You are compromised and we won’t take it from you.”
He went on to accuse the INEC boss of ignoring earlier complaints lodged by the ruling party about alleged voting irregularities in some states in the north while he attended to that of the opposition APC concerning the cantankerous election in Rivers State.
The election commission boss, for his part, dismissed the allegations. He explained that PDP’s petition was not properly channelled.
Garba Shehu, however, believes that Orubebe’s disgraceful action was a taste of what the new party in power should anticipate from the ousted PDP.
“Orubebe’s drama… is just act one, scene one, in a plot that has many more acts and scenes ahead. The elements of the drama might involve a breach of law and order.
“We, therefore, call on Nigerians to be watchful, vigilant and prayerful, and remain resolute to protect our democracy from the machinations of agents-provocateurs,” he stated.
I’m proud of my husband – Buhari’ wife
Incoming First Lady Aisha Buhari took to her newly created official Twitter handle to congratulate her husband, General Muhammadu Buhari, for his victory in the presidential election.
About two hours ago, Mrs Buhari who has recently joined Twitter, wrote, “I am so proud of my husband and the team who have worked hard to make this happen. Nigerians are aware now more than ever that the people have the power to sway the fate of a nation.
“We must see this as a triumphant show of democracy, a change for the better. I am excited for the future of this nation as we now have a mandate for change.
“I, too, have watched with bated breath as the results have been announced. It has been a gripping day for democracy in Nigeria.”
More jubilation
Thousands of Nigerians streamed into the main streets, including hitherto insurgency-endemic states of Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Bauchi and Gombe, waving flags and chanting in celebration of an apparent election victory Buhari.
Also in southern cities of Lagos, Abeokuta, Ibadan and Port Harcourt, it was jubilations galore.
The police stood by and watched as the masses marched past, dancing, singing and waving APC flags.
This was in complete contrast to the wave of political violence witnessed in Kaduna and other parts of the north after the last presidential election result was announced in 2011.
Buhari lost that election to President Jonathan.
PDP head office deserted
The national headquarters of the ruling PDP was like a ghost town yesterday when it became apparent that its presidential candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan, had been defeated by the candidate of the opposition All Progressives Congress, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd).
Signs that the party was not favoured to win the elections had earlier emerged on Monday when most of the employees of the party failed to turn up for duty.
Its staff park, located close to the national secretariat at Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, which was usually full of cars belonging to its employees, was devoid of the usual vehicular activities.
Also, only a handful of the security guards, made up of policemen, civil defence corps and private guards, were at their duty posts.
Yesterday, as the results were being announced by the INEC chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, employees of the party gathered to discuss its possible outcome.
“We have squandered our goodwill,” one of the members of the National Working Committee of the party told our correspondent in confidence.
Dollar falls against Naira
The naira, which has suffered unprecedented fall in recent months, also appear to be responding to the statement of change of leadership.
Yesterday, the country’s currency gained a significant leap as it exchanged for N215 to a dollar.
The exchange rate has been hovering around N225 to N236 since the electioneering campaign started.
The sliding naira value had resulted in speculation in the market and caused ripple effects on other currencies.
Some bureau de change and black market operators in Abuja said that they could not give rates to the Pound Sterling and the Euro, but were excited with the election of Buhari.
Dealers said that there was scarcity of dollars in circulation. They also said that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had stopped selling forex to the Bureaux De Change, since last year.
The CBN in November 2014 devalued the Naira to N168 to the dollar and the free-fall had not abated.
Jonathan’s concession of defeat, lesson for Nigerians – Sultan
*As Atiku hails president, congratulates Buhari
A member of the National Peace Committee and Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, has commended President Goodluck Jonathan over his prompt concession of defeat to his main challenger in the March 28 presidential election, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), describing the gesture as a lesson for all Nigerians.
Reacting to the conduct and outcome of the election during a phone interview on Channels TV last night, Sultan Abubakar described the election as the best in Nigeria’s history, adding that he hoped Buhari would reciprocate Jonathan’s positive gesture.
He further praised the incumbent president for proving his forthrightness after having repeatedly promised to conduct free and free elections during the deliberations of the peace committee.
Also, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, in a congratulatory message to both Jonathan and Buhari yesterday, said he hoped all hands would be on deck to build a new Nigeria.
He also expressed his gratitude to the president for conducting a “historic” election for which he has won global admiration.
Atiku said: “To President Jonathan, I want to specially thank you for conducting a historic election. Your party may have lost the election, but you have won the admiration of the world by not interfering with the wishes of Nigerians. History will be kind to you.”
The former vice president also had words of advice for the president-elect.
“Dear GMB (Gen Muhammadu Buhari), the journey has just begun. Millions of Nigerians have put their trust in you, because they were not satisfied with the status quo. You represent the hope of a new generation of Nigerians, and you cannot afford to fail them. Our party has made a promise of change to our young people, to secure and rebuild our country, create jobs and opportunity, and improve citizens’ welfare. We will stand behind you to ensure we keep those promises, just like we did during these elections,” Atiku said.
We’ll be magnanimous in victory – Gov Amaechi
Rivers State governor and director-general of APC presidential campaign, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, has described the victory of his party at the March 28 presidential election as a victory for democracy.
The governor stated this at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja while addressing journalists.
Amaechi, who arrived at the party’s secretariat with Senator Bukola Sariki to the cheer of jubilant party supporters, also disclosed that his party would be magnanimous in victory.
Pledging that the APC government would carry Nigerians along, the Rivers Governor thanked Nigerians for embracing the party’s message of change.
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