The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has congratulated Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his victory at the presidential primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The former vice-president took to his social media pages to congratulate the former governor of Lagos State, describing the APC presidential primary as a hard-fought contest.
“Congratulations, @officialABAT, on your emergence as your party’s presidential candidate. It has been a hard-fought contest, but that you prevailed confirms your tenacity,” he wrote.
Abubakar emerged as the candidate of the opposition party at the PDP special convention in May, after defeating Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, and former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, among others.
Also, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, congratulated Asiwaju Tinubu, describing him as a “dogged fighter” who stood his ground to compete in the presidential primary in “a democratic manner”.
In a congratulatory message, the speaker said the presidential candidate remains a hero.
Mr Gbajabiamila said he was elated that his political mentor won the APC ticket, which he called a “well-deserved” one, considering Mr Tinubu’s years of working for the entrenchment and strengthening of democracy in Nigeria.
The Speaker said with Asiwaju Tinubu’s victory, APC stood a good chance of retaining power in 2023, maintaining that Nigerians across board “recognize his contributions to our nation’s development”.
He said: “I congratulate my mentor for this victory. This is a victory for democracy and Nigerians as a whole. With the manner he went about his campaigns, Asiwaju has proved to be a hero of our democracy.”
Mr Gbajabiyamila urged Asiwaju Tinubu to be “magnanimous in victory”, as that has been his attitude, and to “carry other aspirants along” for the party’s victory at the general elections.
He also advised other aspirants at the just-concluded primary to join hands and support the party’s presidential candidate.
He lauded President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of the party for providing the enabling level ground for all aspirants to present themselves to the party delegates.
In his own congratulatory message, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ahmed Wase, described the process that led to the emergence of Mr Tinubu as one of the most transparent in the country.
“Your emergence in a transparent process is a testament to the fact that the APC is now more united and stronger and has sent a strong message about our resolve to bring about the desired national transformation needed to turn around the fortunes of our beloved country, Nigeria,” Mr Wase said in a statement.
He expressed confidence that the APC will have emerged from the just-concluded primary election as one that inspires hope, harness the nation’s potentials as well as lead Nigerians to prosperity.
While calling for all hands to be on deck to ensure the success of the APC in the 2023 general election, Mr Wase commended all the aspirants who contested against Asiwaju Tinubu “for their maturity and sportsmanship”.
Similarly, The APC gubernatorial candidate in Niger State, Alhaji Muhammad Umar Bago congratulated Mr Tinubu on his victory.
Alhaji Bago, who is also a member representing the Chanchaga constituency at the National Assembly from Niger state, told Radio Nigeria in Minna that Asiwaju’s was “a well-deserved victory”.
Mr Tinubu, he said, has the “capacity and much-needed exposure and experience” to reposition Nigeria to the next level through good governance.
According to him, the emergence of Senator Ahmed Tinubu as APC flagbearer for the 2023 general elections is an indication that the party and indeed delegates have gotten it right.
He added that Asiwaju Tinubu was the only candidate capable of matching former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar come 2023.
Ibrahim Shehu / Aliyu Lawal/ Adebukola Aluko
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