1st March, 2023
Nigeria’s President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has received his Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for winning last Saturday’s presidential election.
INEC had earlier today announced Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the presidential election having polled the majority votes and satisfied the requirement, winning 25 percent in more than 25 States.
INEC’s Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu handed over the Certificate of Return to Tinubu in Abuja.
There was a large crowd at the event which consistently cheered and hailed Tinubu. As he received his Certificate of Return, the crowd intermittently sang ‘On your mandate we shall stand.’
The Vice President-elect, Kashim Shettima also received his Certificate of Return from INEC.
Speaking after receiving the Certificate of Return, the president-elect said the road had been long and yet they won and that the battle had been fought and the victory won.
Tinubu re-emphasised that he is just a servant and that the Certificate of Return symbolised “our democratic attainment.”
“It also symbolises that each of you has the ability to achieve what you set out to achieve. I am not different from anyone of you, if I can do this, you can do better and you must do better.
“We should shun prejudice, no one is superior to the other or entitled to any opportunity than any Nigeria. Soon this nation will witness a young person standing before you. By dint of handwork and determination you can achieve this.
“There are young people listening to me who will aspired to get here. I will work day and night, especially for the youths to make Nigeria better. It cannot simply be a victory for one man and one party, but victory for Nigeria,” he said.
Tinubu said he knew many people did not vote for him and were disappointed that their candidate was not here right now, he called for unity and for them to embrace this great project which is bigger and more important than one person.
“Don’t allow the disappointment of this moment to keep you from the national work we can achieve together. I am asking you to work with me. Nigeria needs you a lot more than one person. Come in so that we may begin the task of rebuilding our national hope together.
“Where there is poverty, let us create jobs, where there is scarcity let us rediscover our abundance, where there is brutality we may replace it with brotherhood, where others have erected temples to hatred and tribalism, let us build bridges.
“I record this as the moment we come together to make Nigeria great, we are committed to make Nigeria great,” he said.