The Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide has finally congratulated President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Tinubu, candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, had defeated Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Labour Party, respectively in the February 25 Presidential poll as declared by INEC, Nigeria’s electoral umpire.
Both the PDP and the LP candidates are before the Presidential Election Tribunal seeking to upturn Tinubu’s emergence.
The National President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike in a statement on Monday said the time of electioneering was over.
Okwu said the Igbo youths “congratulate Ahmed Bola Tinubu on his victory at the keenly contested election”, adding that it was time to close ranks and work with the President-elect to restore the lost hopes and glory of the country. The time for politicking is over.
He noted that, “it was a hard fought victory; the election shook emotions across the country and at the end of it all, Bola Ahemed Tinubu emerged victorious. We heartily congratulate him and urge others to do same.”
The Igbo Youth President equally said proponents of an interim government should jettison such an idea as Nigeria has to move forward regardless of how anyone feels about the outcome of the polls.
“Those who feel aggrieved with the outcome of the election are already before the tribunal; so the ideal thing is to allow the law to run its course.
“So, anyone nursing the idea of an interim government should drop it completely as it is dead on arrival,” he noted.
Okwu, whoever, urged the incoming Tinubu administration to form an inclusive government as the only way of healing the wounds in the country.
He said the 2023 elections divided the country more than ever and that it was incumbent upon the Tinubu administration to seek ways of restoring unity.
“We don’t expect a divisive government from the incoming President; he should be a true national leader and it should reflect in his actions and words; that is the only way the country can truly move forward,” Okwu stressed.
