My election most credible in Nigeria's history, Tinubu insists

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President Bola Tinubu hailed the election that brought him into office as most credible in the country’s political history.

Tinubu stated this at a meeting with members of his governing All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja to ratify former Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, as National Chairman of the party.

However, the president, who spoke at the APC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, said both the party and government must find a way to satisfy the yearnings of the people.

He said it was important that the policies of his administration must work for Nigerians, and not to punish them.

The NEC meeting approved the choice of Ganduje as APC national chairman, and Senator Ajibola Basiru, from Osun State, as national secretary.

The duo replaced Abdullahi Adamu and Iyiola Omisore, who recently resigned as national chairman and national secretary, respectively.

The APC NEC, at its meeting, rubbished the election report by the European Union (EU) monitoring team, saying an organisation, whose identity and address it did not know, had resorted to campaign of calumny and incitement of Nigerians against the party and government, forcing the party to pass a vote of confidence in the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Indeed, the NEC devolved more powers to the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), with a mandate to fill all other existing vacancies in the NWC.

Ganduje declared that on his watch, internal democracy would be strictly adhered to, with a deliberate policy to engage in wider consultation and make the party functional.

Nonetheless, addressing APC faithful in Abuja, Tinubu said the ruling party got the trophy by winning the election, saying the reward for hard work is more work.

He stated, “The party has a responsibility to promote unity, stability and love among ourselves. And we have to fulfil your dreams and the dreams of our founding fathers.

“To be sure that Nigeria remains the focal point of our domestic and foreign policies. You are the drivers of the party, when we have all other passengers, the drivers and co passenger must not fall asleep and the break working. Party loyalty becomes very important.

“Yes, we are facing challenges in the court, but I think this is the most credible election in Nigeria. So, we must congratulate ourselves. As a democrat, those who cannot accept the results of a free and fair election do not deserve the joy of victory.”

Tinubu admitted that there were governance issues, which the federal government was tackling head on.

He said, “We must oil the wheel, grease it. I have submitted ministerial list to Senate for screening and approval. We are in the process of establishing fully the government of the people, for the people and by the people.

“I can see a number of my friends here and you have not been able to see me. It is what you all fought for to bring me here, we have governance issues and you will not see me often as you want to.”

The president noted that the country was going through issues, some of which he had sufficiently addressed in his nationwide broadcast last Monday.

According to him, “We will face it squarely to reengineer the economy of this country. We must find a way to satisfy the yearnings of the common man and we must ensure that all the policies we roll out work for the common man. Our policies are for the people, not to punish the people.”