By Kamil Opeyemi
President of Turkey, Tayyip Erdoğan, has congratulated Nigeria’s President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In his congratulatory letter, President Erdoğan, who described Asiwaju Tinubu as a brother, called for mutual cooperation and partnership that would further the friendly relationship between Turkey and Nigeria.
This was disclosed in a statement by Tinubu’s Media Aide, Tunde Rahman on Wednesday quoted Erdoğan to have underscored the importance of Nigeria as the “strongest nation in the African continent”
“On behalf of the Turkish Nation and my own, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Your Excellency on the occasion of your election as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at the elections held on February 25, 2023,” President Erdoğan wrote
“I believe that as our strategic partner, Nigeria, under your leadership, will continue its course to a prosperous future. Türkiye attaches great importance to improving its relations with Nigeria, as the strongest nation in the African continent.
“With this understanding, I have no doubt that with our joint efforts we will develop the friendly relations and the growing close cooperation between our countries to the mutual benefit of our people.
“I avail myself of this opportunity to express my heartfelt wishes for the health and happiness of Your Excellency, as well as, the wellbeing and prosperity of the friendly people of Nigeria.”
While wishing Bola Tinubu a successful tenure of office, Erdoğan was optimistic that Tinubu-Shettima administration would usher in progress for the people of Nigeria,
Some of the notable world leaders who have congratulated Bola Tinubu include, President Xi Jinping of China, United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, President of France, Emmanuel Macron, Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, among others.
In the Feb 25th presidential election, INEC declared Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) winner having polled 8,794,726 votes to defeat Atiku who scored 6,984,520 and Peter Obi of the Labour Party who got 6,101,533.
Atiku and Tinubu won 12 states each while Obi won 11 states and the FCT and Rabiu Kwankwaso of NNPP won 1 state.