Bola Tinubu yesterday returned to Lagos in a blaze of glory, describing his Certificate of Return as a World Cup he had brought home.
Bubbling with excitement, he thanked Nigerians for voting for him, assuring that he will not disappoint them. Tinubu, who stormed the palace of the Eleko of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, thanked the monarch and other community leaders for their support and prayers.
Speaking in Yoruba, he said: “This certificate that I brought home is our own World Cup.” Oba Akiolu, who hugged the President-elect, wished him an eventful tenure.
Also in Abuja, elder statesman Alhaji Tanko Yakassai urged Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar and his Labour Party (LP) counterpart, Peter Obi, to support Tinubu.
He said the election has produced a winner and loser, adding that after the exercise, they should cooperate with the president-elect in the task of governance. Oba Akiolu described him as a special breed “who is destined for leadership at the very top.”
He added: “Asiwaju, Lagos will not forget you. You did all your best to serve Lagos and you served excellently. I know you have enemies; all our ancestors had too. So, were all the prophets…
“Some are even enemies of God that created us. But I know that our forefathers will fight your battles. God will grant you victory and Nigeria will be great under you.”
Tinubu arrived to the warm embrace All Progressives Congress (APC) faithful at the presidential wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja in the afternoon.
They were led by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, his Chief of Staff (CoS) Tayo Ayinde, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro and other top APC chieftainss.
Tinubu’s first port of call was Iga-Iduganran Palace where Oba Akiolu, other monarchs and white cap chiefs were already waiting.
Addressing the crowd at the palace, Tinubu likened the primary and the general election to a World Cup tournament.
Thanking Lagosians and Nigerians for his eventual victory, he promised to work assiduously for the country.
Tinubu specifically thanked Oba Akiolu and others royal fathers for their advice, support and cooperation.
Other traditional rulers at the palace included: Elegushi of Ikate-Elegushi Kingdom, Oba Saheed Elegushi, and the Oniru of Iruland, Oba Omogbolahan Lawal.
Also at the palace were former Deputy Governor Femi Pedro, former Commissioner for Environment in Lagos Dr. Muiz Banire and Lagos APC Women Leader Jumoke Okoya-Thomas.
Yakassai, grand patron of Northern Alliance Committee, told reporters in Abuja that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducted a successful poll.
He said: “The aim of the briefing is to publicly convey our congratulations to President-elect Senator Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu on his victory in the just concluded presidential election, reflect on the conduct and outcome of the election whichconsequently declared Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the winner of the election.
“As in any contest under democracy, there is always the winner and the loser. But, at the end of it all, the two will team up to move their country forward in the interest of the nation and its people. The country will move on and people will continue to engage in their various activities and all will march on to the next phase in nation building.”
“Yakassai said the National Alliance Committee was delighted that Tinubu, who became the Candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), was elected president.
“He recalled that the group actively participated in the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Committee and campaigned at the grassroots, ward, local government, state, and national level.
“Yakassai thanked God that the candidate supported by the group won the poll.
He said: “The natural thing for all to do now is to give the president maximum support in the task of tackling many issues bedeviling our country, which need all hands to be on deck in handling these challenges.
“There are many challenges on ground ranging from the economic, security and social issues. The task ahead of the new president are enormous.”
Yakassai added: “We appreciate the maturity showed by a number of members of opposition parties by conducting themselves responsibly since the declaration of the result. We also thank the people of Nigeria for reposing their confidence in Tinubu.
“We congratulate the Independent National Electoral Commission for successful conduct of the presidential election and we urge the commission to take into consideration suggestions made by members of the public in conducting the next elections.
“The presidential election was very successful and the evidence of that is the acceptance by the people of the country, the evidence is that there was no protest, or disruptions that led to loss of lives or anything.
“Our expectations is that INEC would also conduct the next elections in the same manner it conducted the presidential election and I congratulate them for a job well done.”
