During the early hours of Wednesday, at the International Collation Centre in Abuja, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), announced Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate and former Lagos State governor, as the winner of the 2023 presidential election, with 8,794,726 votes.
According to Mahmood, Tinubu emerged victorious in the presidential election, defeating his opponents – Atiku Abubakar from the Peoples Democratic Party, Peter Obi from the Labour Party, and Rabiu Kwankwaso from the New Nigeria Peoples Party.
As Nigeria’s newly elected president, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu delivered his acceptance speech, highlighting several points that hold significance for Nigeria’s future. Here are seven key takeaways from his acceptance speech:
Renewed Hope: Tinubu described his election as “a shining moment” and “affirmation of our democratic existence.” He acknowledged the trust Nigerians placed in him and the vision of a Nigeria founded on shared prosperity and unity. He promised to be a fair leader to all Nigerians and to deliver a nation they can be proud of.
Unity: Tinubu emphasized unity, justice, peace, and tolerance as the ideals that nurture Nigeria. He called for political conciliation and inclusive governance, asking his opponents to join him in building a brighter and more productive society.
Free and Fair Election: Tinubu commended INEC for conducting a free and fair election, stating that the lapses that occurred were relatively few in number and immaterial to the final outcome.
Gratitude: Tinubu expressed gratitude to everyone who supported his campaign, including President Buhari, his wife, family, party members, governors, and campaign organization. He acknowledged his opponents, extending the hand of friendship, and recognizing them as his brothers.
Legal Recourse: Tinubu reminded his opponents of their right to seek legal recourse if they felt the election was not conducted fairly. He urged everyone to make any challenge to the electoral outcome in a court of law and not in the streets.
Youth: Tinubu acknowledged the challenges facing Nigeria’s youth and promised to work with them to build a more prosperous society. He pledged to listen and do the big deeds that would put Nigeria on the path of irreversible progress.
Peace: Tinubu asked his supporters to let peace reign and tensions fade. He reminded everyone that they ran a principled, peaceful, and progressive campaign, and the aftermath of the campaign should be benign.
Tinubu promised to be a fair leader to all Nigerians, work with the youth to build a more prosperous society, and listen to the people. Nigerians hope that Tinubu will deliver on his promises and lead the country to greatness.
