Solomon, Utomi, Others Speak On Buhari’s Victory, President Jonathan’s Response

Senator Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon, representing Lagos West Senatorial District, says the triumph of retired General Muhammadu Buhari in the presidential election is a victory to democracy in Nigeria. Solomon, in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in Lagos, said that the victory was elating. He said: “We are all happy. “It is a victory to Nigeria and not individuals alone. “It should be seen beyond individuals, via APC or via Buhari. “All in all, it is a victory to democracy in Nigeria.” The senator said that in the last 16 years of practicing democracy, Nigerians had taken a giant leap. Solomon said: “We have conducted an election that is, by and large, free and fair and against all odds, it came and just went like that. “Indeed, it is a victory to Nigeria.” Solomon said that in no particular order, Buhari, President Goodluck Jonathan and Prof. Attahiru Jega were heroes in the struggle. He said: “They contributed immensely to this giant leap that Nigeria has made. “This gives us a lot of hope, especially those of us who compare Nigeria with older democracies, that sooner than you even think, we will get there, if we continue this way.” Solomon, however, said irregularities that were noticed in the March 28 presidential election would be perfected in the next one. Also, the Lagos APC Publicity Secretary, Joe Igbokwe, told NAN that the outcome of the presidential election was good news for Nigerians and for Lagos residents in particular. Igbokwe said: “We believe that for the first time in the history of this nation, Nigerians will be proud of the person they elected as President. “We know his history, we know his antecedents and we know what he is capable of doing.” Igbokwe described Buhari as a man that could be trusted to run the affairs of the country. Meanwhile, a political economist, Prof. Pat Utomi, has also commended President Jonathan for being quick in congratulating the President-elect, Buhari. Utomi told the NAN in Lagos that the President’s action showed that any Nigerian could serve, bow out and achieve greater glory. He said: “One of the great lessons in this is that public service is exactly about this. “It is not a do or die affair. “Mr. Jimmy Carter, a former American President, did not perform so well in office because the economy under him did not boom. “But Carter became one of the greatest presidents the world ever had because he achieved greater glory after office. “You can achieve greater glory on the outside more than the inside sometimes. “Jonathan has helped in the creation of that culture for our country. “Most importantly, Nigerians have recognised the power to change and this will usher in accountability and scrutiny. “The whole issue of non-investment in Nigeria is hinged on lack of strong institutions. “Now I have been receiving calls from all over the world on how our stock is doing. “Nigerians have now been seen to have institutional strength and people that will witness what will happen to investments in our economy.” According to Utomi, the graciousness of Buhari in his response also shows that he would be a leader for all. “Before the election, any leader or politician can be partisan, but after the election, the winner must pay equal attention to all,” he said. Also, the South-West Chapter of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties said the just concluded presidential election had ushered in a new era of the nation’s democracy. The South-West Secretary of the CNPP, Austin Nnorom, described the President’s reaction to the result as a welcome development. Nnorom said: “Jonathan’s action is healthy for our democracy and we urge Buhari to run an inclusive government. “We want the president-elect to ensure that his government is not hijacked by party members. “If anything goes wrong, it is Buhari and not his party members that will be held responsible.”