By Hillary Asemota
Following the election of Senator Bola Tinubu on Wednesday as the Presidential flagbearer for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2023 general elections, President Muhammadu Buhari, the Senate President Mr. Ahmad Lawan and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila have congratulated the winner on the hard won victory.
Tinubu’s emergence put paid to the hitherto consensus arrangement which President seriously yearned and advocated in choosing the party’s flagbearer.
In a statement signed by Mallam Garba Shehu, Buhari, said: “Having emerged victorious he has our full and unwavering support.
“Now our party must unite behind our candidate to achieve victory at the 2023 elections so that our government will continue to secure our communities, grow our economy and continue the fight against corruption.
“During the Primaries, there were factions and disagreements amongst the contestants and now that the process has ended we must build a united front in our party.
“In this way, the APC will remain the party that can best deliver on the priorities of the Nigerian people. Now it is time to put the process behind us.
“Because what we can all agree is that the APC remains the party that can best deliver on the priorities of the Nigerian people. But the way to demonstrate that we can get on with this job is to unite.
“The movement we created in 2013 is beyond individuals. Together, we made history by becoming the first party in our country’s history to unseat a party in power and propel our candidate into the Presidency through a peaceful democratic transfer of power.
“We strongly believe that Bola Ahmed Tinubu will safeguard and improve on this democratic achievement and legacy. He is the right candidate for Nigeria’s aspiration because he is the APC’s candidate and under the continued stewardship of our party. Nigeria can achieve greatness and fulfill its destiny in Africa and the World.
“The high point of this extraordinary convention of our party was the energy of the Presidential aspirants and it is from amongst them that we have chosen the most popular leader.
“I recognize and commend the enthusiasm and self-confidence amongst our party men and women.
“I also thank the delegates for making the right decision leading to the emergence of our candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. “Senate President, also in a statement made available to the media, said: With Asiwaju as candidate, APC confident of victory in 2023 Presidential poll
Lawan, added that the emergence of Tinubu as the presidential candidate of the APC, has reassured his party of winning the 2023 presidential poll.
In a letter of congratulation that he personally signed, Lawan who was also an aspirant in the primary said the outcome of the election process had shown that Tinubu was the popular choice of his party.
…His: full text of the letter:
The Presidential Primary of our great party, the APC, for the 2023 general election has come and gone.
I am elated and proud that the Presidential primary was manifestly free and fair, and conducted within our APC Family under a most convivial atmosphere.
The success of the event again demonstrates the capacity of our great party to run its internal affairs smoothly and devoid of rancour.
As Your Excellency is aware, I offered myself alongside your good self and other patriotic members of the party to fly its highly coveted flag in the 2023 presidential election.
I did so in the belief that I have the knowledge base, ideas, experience and desire to provide leadership for our dear country at these most trying times.
However, the outcome of the election process has shown that Your Excellency is the popular choice of our party for that assignment.
I do not have an iota of doubt in the wisdom of that decision by our Party’s delegates from across the country.
Your glittering track record of public service, foresight and grit in party building and administration, as well as the courage you continue to demonstrate in fighting for the entrenchment of democracy in Nigeria make you worthy of the high esteem and trust of our party members everywhere in Nigeria as exhibited at the National Convention.
It is on this note that I heartily congratulate you on your well-deserved victory at the primary.
I have no doubt that with your credentials, experience, antecedents and political sagacity, our great party will go into the 2023 contest confident of victory.
As a loyal party member, I remain committed to the party at all times and will always be available to work for its success.
Once again, I congratulate Your Excellency on your well-deserved nomination as the standard bearer of our party and, insha Allah, next President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, also added his voice in congratulating, Tinubu, via a statement signed by his Director of Communications and Media Strategy, Mr. Ima Niboro.
The statement reads: Omo-Agege, the standard bearer of APC in the 2023 governorship election in Delta State, expressed optimism that Tinubu would emerge victorious in next year’s presidential election.
He particularly lauded President Muhammadu Buhari and the governing APC for giving all aspirants a level-playing field.
He commended the 2022 APC Special Convention Committee for successfully conducting the primary, even as he showered glowing tributes on APC Northern Governors for setting the pace by zoning the Presidency to the South.
While calling on Tinubu to be magnanimous in victory, Omo-Agege stressed the need for all presidential aspirants to join hands with the APC Presidential candidate and the party in ensuring victory.
“Not everyone gave APC a chance to conduct a free, fair, credible presidential primary. With the undercurrents in the buildup, some had predicted that our great party would go into extinction after this Convention.
“But with the transparent process that saw the emergence of Asiwaju Tinubu as our party standard bearer, I am confident more than ever before that this is the beginning of even greater tidings for our party.
“We proved our critics wrong. We have shown that with unity of purpose, the sky is our starting point,” he said.
The Deputy Senate President called on Nigerians to support Tinubu and other APC candidates at all levels in the forthcoming polls.
