By Marcus Ikechukwu
Bola Tinubu, Nigeria’s President-elect, on Wednesday, led governors of the All Progressive Congress (APC) on a thank-you visit to President Muhammadu Buhari in Daura, Katsina State.
Tinubu flew in from Abuja on Wednesday night, a few hours after he was presented with a Certificate of Return by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
President Buhari, while casting his vote on Saturday at polling unit 003, Sarkin Yara Ward A, Daura Local Government Area had openly displayed his ballot papers, indicating that he did not betray his party member and presidential flagbearer, Bola Tinubu.
Tinubu was accompanied on the visit to Daura to meet with the President by the National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress, Abdullahi Adamu, Vice President-elect, Kassim Shettima, Governors of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-rufai, Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu, Ebonyi, Dave Umahi, Zamfara, Bello Matawella, Jigawa, Abubakar Badaru, Ogun, Dapo Abiodun, Katsina, Aminu Masari, Niger, Sani Bello, Lagos, Babajide Sanwo Olu amongst others.
Tinubu was declared the President-elect in the early hours of Wednesday by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) having defeated Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party.
After the brief meeting, in Daura, Tinubu told reporters that he came to pay homage to the President for his mentorship prowess and how he is tolling the path of sustainable democracy in Africa.
Tinubu said no matter how provocative defeat might seem, there was a need to show tolerance, especially as democrats and the goal of nation-building.
“I came to present the Certificate of Return to him (Buhari) as the party leader and commend his efforts in supporting democracy in Africa, this is the largest democracy in Africa and he couldn’t have done any better, we are lucky there is no incident, there is no accident, and no matter how provocative a defeat is, we still have to tolerate it because we are democrats and we are trying to build a nation,” he said.
“The calmness and commitment and the fact that after voting he taught us again dedication to our party by displaying his ballot papers, loyalty to the party, and being ready to create a future for all of us and no matter how tempting the problem of democracy is, he is following the process, building a successor and ready to hand over peacefully, you know in Africa its a big deal you know.”
On congratulatory messages received, ” oh very many, many of that fact as far as Europe, the stock market reacted positively well, there was a goodwill message from Macron the President of France”.
