• Amaechi: We will be magnanimous in victory • Fayose
urges Nigerians to accept result, imposes curfew
Chuks Okocha, Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja and Olakiitan
Victor in Ado Ekiti 

The ululation of victory and celebration is already
reverberating across the land following the victory of the All
Progressives Congress (APC) at the March 28 presidential
polls.
Congratulatory messages have been pouring in from all
quarters.
Congratulating the president –elect, Major General
Muhammadu Buhari, stated that, former military president,
General Ibrahim Babangida, yesterday
"Let me formally congratulate General Muhammadu Buhari
and the All Progressives Congress for this well-deserved
victory.”
In a statement he personally signed, IBB said: "This victory
to me conveys two significant statements on our political
history and evolution. First, that incumbents can be
defeated in any democratic process if the people’s
aspirations are not fulfilled.
"Second, that there is good reward for perseverance and
hard work. General Buhari has been very consistent in
pursuing his political aspiration. In fact, he reminds me of
President Abraham Lincoln of the American fame, who was
very dogged in pursuing his political aspiration and
enriched the contents of democracy in America. General
Buhari lives true to his military calling by remaining very
consistent, resilient and courageous right from 2003 till
date.
"This enviable feat to me further enriches our democratic
process and matures us into the top echelon of nations
where democracy has taken firm root. That President
Jonathan has indeed conceded defeat and congratulated
the President-elect is also cheering news.
"Let me also congratulate other presidential candidates of
the other political parties, especially Mr. President, Dr.
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for putting up a good fight in the
elections. I wish to also commend the Independent National
Electoral Commission, for conducting such a free, fair and
transparent election despite all the initial hitches and
challenges.
"With this election and its outcome thus far, Nigeria has
once again recorded another milestone in her march
through the enviable ladder of democracy. Our leadership
role in Africa will further be enhanced by the way and
manner we manage the gains of this process. But I trust
that the President-elect will live up to the expectations of
many Nigerians that crave for change; and lift Nigeria to
greater heights.
On his part, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar also
commended both the President-elect, Buhari, and
President Goodluck Jonathan for being part of the historic
election.
Atiku in a statement issued last night, hailed Buhari for
being elected the next president of Nigeria.
"You have led our party, the All Progressives Congress to
an unprecedented victory within two years of its official
formation, and in so doing, written the most important
chapter of our democracy.
"The great Nnamdi Azikiwe once wrote that 'history will
continue to vindicate the just.' Your victory in the polls,
with votes from across the length and breadth of our
country, bears witness to the acceptance of not just our
party, the APC, but also your ideology of justice, fair play
and zero tolerance for corruption as the bedrock for
national rebirth.
"At this historic moment, it is most important to say a
hearty thank you to every Nigerian who voted for the APC.
Your votes have not just elected the first opposition party
into federal power, but has also set a precedent which will
have positive implications for democracy across Africa.
"Dear 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," he said.
Atiku said the country needs a new direction, adding that
Buhari should see his office as an opportunity to unite and
rally them for development.
"We have voted for you, and our party won the election, but
when you assume our highest office, you must become the
president of not just the APC, but all of Nigeria, including
the people who did not vote for you. We look up to you to
heal the fractures of our country, and truly unite this country
like never before.
"To President Jonathan, I want to specially thank you for
conducting a historic election. Your party may have lost the
elections, but you have won the admiration of the world by
not interfering with the wishes of Nigerians. History will be
kind to you.
"It is my sincere hope that we will all come together as one
country, to build the Nigeria of our dreams," he said.
Beyond the eulogy of President Jonathan, the National
Leader of the APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has described
Buhari's victory as Nigeria's finest moment in its political
history.
"It is a moment when hope is re-born, faith is rekindled and
a fresh fire of patriotism is released for the task ahead. I
congratulate General Buhari, Nigeria's President-elect on
his hard won victory. I salute our gallant party leaders and
members for running the long distance to victory. To
millions of Nigerians I say this- the APC seeks not power
for its sake, but for the purpose of bringing a better life to
our people and re-building our country.
This is also democracy' s finest moment. Nigerians alive
today have witnessed the beginning of an era of change .
They made this happen and they are the true celebrants and
they are deserving. Together we share this victory. Side by
side we would work together to bring our country back," he
said.
In the same vein, one of the leaders of APC and a former
governor of old Abia State, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, said: "I am
very happy that Nigerians have given us the opportunity to
address the problems of the nation. I am confident that APC
will show that many of these problems of the country can
be solved. We thank Nigerians because it is very important
that the party tries to live up to the expectations of
Nigerians".
From Ekiti State also came a congratulatory message from
its governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, one of the most virulent
critics of the Buhari candidacy.
In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Public
Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, the
governor said the election results should not been seen as
victory or loss for any political party, adding that: "To me,
Nigerians and democracy won."
Fayose commended the resilience of President Jonathan
and Gen. Buhari for their patriotism, urging them to work
together to move the nation forward in all spheres.
The governor said the results of the election must be taken
in good faith, adding: "The election result is the will of God
and Nigerians , and all lovers of peace, progress and
development of Nigeria must accept it."
He praised Nigerians for believing in the democratic
process, adding that: "By this election, Nigerians have
shown that democracy has come to stay in the country.
"I salute President Jonathan for laying the most solid
foundation for democracy in Nigeria. And I salute Major
General Buhari for being a resilient and dogged fighter.
"I urge Nigerians, irrespective of their ethnic, religious and
political affiliations to respect the outcome of the election in
the interest of peace, progress and development of the
country."
In a state-wide broadcast, he imposed a dusk-to-dawn
curfew on all parts of the state, to prevent violence after the
declaration of the results of the presidential poll.
He said the 12-hour curfew, which began yesterday, would
last between 7.30 pm and 6.00am, being part of the efforts
to ward off any form of crisis in the state.
The governor, however, did not mention how many days the
restriction would last, but emphasised the need for people
to exercise restraint for Ekiti to be in peace.
Meanwhile, the APC has rolled out the drums to celebrate
its victory starting with a reception for Buhari at the party's
national headquarters in Abuja last night.
As soon as it became obvious that Buhari was coasting
home to victory with the majority of the results from states
already announced, the leadership of APC started making
arrangements to formally receive Buhari and the Vice-
President-elect, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.
As early as 8.00 am yesterday, many of the party faithful
started milling around the party’s secretariat waiting for the
final result to be announced by the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC).
The party secretariat was beautifully decorated with newly
procured Nigerian flags and APC flags and with a red
carpet laid out in wait for the triumphal entry of Buhari.
The atmosphere was charged as the secretariat staff and
supporters of the party who besieged the place kept singing
and drumming. Even as at 7pm, the supporters kept pouring
into the secretariat, men, women all dressed in various
attires depicting the APC party colours and symbol.
Party leaders, men and women, were hugging one another
in excitement not even the religious restrictions could stop
the elaborate warm embrace that were exchanged between
men and women during the celebration.
Among the leaders of the party who came early to
congratulate the president-elect were Governor of
Nasarawa State Tanko Al Makura, Governor of Ogun State
Ibikunle Amosun and Imo State governor, Chief Rochas
Okorocha.
In anticipation of victory of its presidential candidate, the
APC had begun the decoration and beautification of the
national campaign headquarters in Abuja.
The two-storey building, luxury office where all the
campaign plans and activities were plotted suddenly
started wearing a new look yesterday with the walls
beautifully adorned with colourful ribbons.
THISDAY also gathered that the party leadership has
commenced the procurement of customized T-shirts with
various inscriptions in praise of the opposition party and its
leaders, all in anticipation of the declaration of its
presidential candidate, Buhari, as winner of the poll.
According to the spokesman of the APC presidential
campaign, Mallam Garba Shehu, the decoration of the
campaign office was to reflect the joyous, celebration mood
of Nigerians.
"Yes, as you can see our campaign office has been
decorated in line with the celebration of the victory of APC
at the polls," he said.
But away from the celebratory mood, Governor Rotimi
Amaechi of Rivers State who also served as the Director
General of the APC Campaign organisation, has reaffirmed
the campaign promises of the APC, adding that the party
will be magnanimous in victory.
Amaechi, who said this at the party’s secretariat in Abuja,
noted that the government of Muhammadu Buhari would be
all-inclusive.
Amaechi, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN),
noted that, “After the announcement, it will become clearer
to the nation that APC has won the election and we will be
magnanimous in victory.
“We cherish this victory so much but it is not only about
celebration, it is about the seriousness of governance and
you must see the difference between us the current
government.
“If we say there is incompetence, we must show
competence; If we say there was corruption, we must show
that we will not be corrupt.
“If we say that people were denied their basic rights, we
must protect the rights of people.
“If we say there was impunity, we must govern by the rule
of law and once we show that, you will see the basic
difference between us and the current government,"
Amaechi said.
He noted that the victory of the party at the presidential
election was historic as it was the first time in the history of
the country’s democracy that an incumbent federal
government would be defeated.
“The victory is historical to me. I will be proud to tell my
children that for the first time in the history of Nigeria, the
opposition party was able to rout the government and party
in power.
“We were able to present a different picture of what life
looks like which is giving the people the courage to
confront the current government on corruption and confront
the fact that people were hungry.
“This is because they don’t go to the same market as other
Nigerians go.
“They have the kind of funds they want and they eat the
kind of food they want to eat but Nigerians were dying of
hunger.
“We want to let Nigerians know that Boko Haram was not
about religion alone, there was element of poverty and
ignorance," he added.
Amaechi also said that the incoming government would
have to deal with the falling standard of education and
unemployment in the north and south.
He added that the Buhari administration would make
Nigerians to understand that religion was never an issue in
Nigeria.
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