•Report by Kamil Opeyemi
The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan has congratulated the President-elect, Sen. Bola Tinubu and the Vice President-elect, Sen. Kashim Shettima on their election victory.
Lawan in a congratulatory statement in Abuja on Wednesday by his Special Adviser (Media), Mr Ola Awoniyi said that the victory affirmed the trust of the Nigerian people in the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidates.
“I congratulate the President-elect, Sen. Bola Tinubu, and the Vice President-elect, Sen. Kashim Shettima, on their resounding victory in Saturday’s Presidential Election.
“The Election was hard-fought on all sides. So this victory is very sweet and will be savoured for a long time by our great party, the APC and our supporters throughout Nigeria and across the world.
“This victory affirms the trust of the Nigerian people in our great party, the APC and its candidates.
“However, it is also a challenge to us to continue the progressive development of our dear nation, Nigeria, in line with the agenda of our party.
“Nigerians have spoken unequivocally with their votes in their endorsement of that agenda and the Renewed Hope Compact that you, our flag bearers, presented during the campaigns.
“This is because of your sterling track records in public service. We are confident that you will competently and faithfully deliver on that compact.
*The outcome of the election is a seal of approval by the Nigerian people of the performance of the Government of the APC in the last eight years,” Lawan said
He commended President Buhari for sustaining confidence in the party, APC.
“We are also proud of him for his statesmanship in ensuring a level playing field for all the contestants and respecting INEC.
“I also congratulate our great party, the APC, for this election victory. I rejoice with my colleagues; senators-elect and members-elect of the House of Representatives over their triumph at the polls.
“I wish to assure the President-elect of the full cooperation and support of the Ninth National Assembly in the transition process until the end of our tenure on June 11.
“I am also confident that the 10th Assembly will avail the incoming administration of President-elect, Bola Tinubu similar cooperation and support to deliver on its mandate to the Nigerian people.
“To my dear colleagues of the incoming 10th Assembly, they should please bear in mind that all eyes are now on them because Nigerians are looking forward to what they have in store for the country.
“The tasks of nation-building that lie ahead are enormous. But with determination and patriotic zeal, these tasks will be achieved.
“May God continue to bless our beloved Nigeria and our great party, the APC,” Lawan said.
In the same vein, Gov. Mai Mala Buni of Yobe has also congratulated Nigeria’s President-elect, Bola Tinubu and the Vice President-elect, Sen. Kashim Shettima, on their victory at the polls.
Buni, in a statement by his Director-General, Press and Media Affairs, Alhaji Mamman Mohammed in Damaturu on Wednesday, described Tinubu and Shetima as the best team to run the country at this material time.
“The people of Nigeria have spoken with great hope for a better Nigeria through the Tinubu/Shettima Presidency.
“Tinubu is a true Nigerian, who in his private and public life accomodates Nigerians from various ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds.
“His experience in transforming Lagos State would no doubt be used for the transformation of a larger Nigeria,” he said.
The governor called on Nigerians and other candidates who contested in the just concluded presidential election to support Tinubu to build a more united and prosperous Nigeria.
Buni prayed God to guide the incoming Asiwaju/Kashim administration for a more united, prosperous and a better country.
The Katsina State Governor Aminu Bello Masari on Wednesday believed that God has indeed vindicated him when Nigerians elected Tibubu as their president.
The governor in his congratulatory message shortly after the electoral umpire, declared Tinubu as the winner of Saturday’s exercise, further traced the developmental projects Tinubu executed in Lagos State.
According to Masari, the president-elect has the brain and capacity to galvanize Nigeria and propel it forward to a greater height to be a pride not only to black Africans but all blacks all over the world.
“So, we thank all those who voted, supported, and prayed for Tinubu in Katsina and Nigeria as a whole and for voting for three senators and nine out of fifteen members of the House of Representatives.
“In the whole northwest, we have the highest contribution to the next tenth National Assembly of the country. We are very proud and we have made our president proud
“Tinubu is a resourceful and a good manager of human. I am sure he can do it,” he explained.
Governor Masari also called on people in the state to make sure they put Katsina first while voting for the governorship candidates in the forthcoming March 11th, 2023 governorship elections.
“Let the people of Katsina State put the candidates on the scale, I am sure they will vote for the All Progressives Congress candidate, Dr Dikko Umaru Radda. He is more than qualified, he has the capacity, he has been tested, he has delivered and he is a seasoned, well-educated, and trustworthy politician,” Masari believed.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has in the early hours of Wednesday declared Tinubu as the winner of the 2023 presidential election.
Tinubu scored a total of 8,794,726 votes to defeat his closest rival, Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who scored 6, 984,520 votes.
Announcing the results at about 4:15 am, the INEC Chairman and the returning Officer for the 2023 Presidential Elections, Professor Mahmood Yakubu said the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, and the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) presidential candidate, Mr Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso polled 6, 101, 533 and 1,496,687 votes respectively.