Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has congratulated Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on his victory in the 2023 presidential election, saying the election has renewed hope for the Nigerian people.
In a statement personally signed by the governor, he expressed his delight at the peaceful conduct of the election and praised Nigerians for coming out in large numbers to exercise their civic duty.
He said, “This year’s elections have again proved that Nigerians are ready to continue as a people, united by common destiny. It has begun a process of the eventual demystification of the deluded potentates. The people perceived treachery bordering on treason. They rejected perfidy and all traces of same. At the end of the contest, the people of Nigeria won.”
The governor hailed Tinubu for extending an olive branch to fellow contestants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi of the Labour Party, and others to join him as a team in making Nigeria a great nation.
Akeredolu urged all contestants to put their political differences aside and work together in the interest of the country.
He said, “There should be no difficulty for them to join hands with the in-coming government if the focus is indeed service to the people.”
The governor noted that the pervasive anger in the land dictated the voting pattern, saying the ruling party must be courageous enough to dismantle all structures which stifle development.
He said, “The Nigerian state must be administered true to the acclaimed federal status. The Government and the people of Ondo State hope to engage the Federal Government, vigorously, on these issues. There will be no compromise on this stance.”
Akeredolu congratulated Tinubu and Vice President-elect Kashim Shettima on their well-deserved victory and commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his promise to bequeath a legacy of credible elections to the country.
He also expressed his gratitude to the Northern and Southern Governors’ Forums and all Nigerians for their sense of patriotism and determination in ensuring a successful election.
The governor concluded by urging all elected officials to prioritize the needs of the people and work tirelessly to improve the socio-economic conditions in the country.
He said, “The people have chosen competence and a verifiable record of quintessential performance over narrow-mindedness, propelled by ethno-religious considerations, and sinister predilections anchored on dubious claims to spiritual superiority and knowledge. They await, anxiously, the fulfilment of these promises. We cannot afford to disappoint ourselves as their minds are made up on getting quality service.”