Former governor of Abia State and senator-elect Dr Orji Uzor Kalu has called on Nigerians, irrespective of tribe, religion or political affiliation, to accept the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari in last week’s presidential election.
He also called on Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the pan-Igbo socio-cultural organisation, to congratulate President Buhari for his victory.
In a statement, Kalu said since the election had been won, Nigerians should come together to support President Buhari in his second term.
“I call on all Nigerians to accept the outcome of the elections as announced by INEC as a reflection of the will of the people. In particular, I urge the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and all other well-meaning Igbo leaders to congratulate President Buhari on his re-election for a second term,” Kalu said.
He said the election was tough and keenly contested by the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), but that Nigerians should take a cue from what happened in the United State in 2016 when President Donald Trump and former Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton contested for the presidency.
According to him, after the result was declared, Clinton congratulated Trump.
He said: “The election was tough and hotly contested by the two main political parties in Nigeria, the PDP and the APC. In 2016, President Donald Trump and former Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton ran a very tough, divisive and even nasty campaign but Clinton still congratulated President Trump immediately after the election and the Democrats moved on and started preparing for the next election. If our democracy must grow, we must emulate the very positive sides of the United States democratic system, from whence we borrowed our presidential system.”
He said the US, who fought a war with Vietnam, is working together today with her. “Let me also add that the historic second summit between President Trump and Chairman Kim of North Korea is taking place today (February 27, 2019) in Vietnam, a country with which the United States fought a fratricidal war in the seventies but have become great friends and collaborators, giving rise to the spectacular developmental strides in Vietnam today.”
The senator-elect urged Nigerians to have faith in democracy and to trust President Buhari who had promised that his new administration starting from May 29, 2019, would work harder for a better Nigeria.
Quoting Buhari as saying, “the new administration will intensify its effort in security, restructuring the economy and fighting corruption. We have laid down the foundation and we are committed to seeing matters to the end. We will strive to strengthen our unity and inclusiveness so that no section or group will feel left behind or left out,” Kalu urged Nigerians “to please trust the president and continue to have faith in our democracy and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
He congratulated President Buhari, saying: “Expectedly, President Muhammadu Buhari was re-elected as the President and Commander in Chief of Nigeria for a second term of four years. I congratulate the president for emerging victorious in the election and I also thank the People of Abia North senatorial district for finding me worthy of representing them in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Kalu urged Nigerians, “especially my Igbo people to reflect very carefully on this and note that there can be no permanent friends or permanent enemies in politics, but permanent interests. The bones shall certainly rise again.”