...pledges to run all-inclusive government

BY DANIEL IDONOR
PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan Tuesday at the collation centre of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, received the official stamp to his victory at the last Saturday Presidential Election when the INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega presented him with the Certificate of Return, as required by law.

His running mate in the election and Vice President,  Namadi Sambo, was also presented with his Certificate of Return, according to law.

The President got his President-Elect title at exactly 4.40p.m. While the Vice President, Namadi Sambo also got his certificate of return as vice president-elect at 4:43 PM.

The brief ceremony was witnessed by First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, wife of the Vice President, Aisha Sambo, some state governors, party chieftains, Ijaw leaders, ministers and some captains of industry, at the National Electoral Commission Institute.

Jonathan thanked God for making their emergence possible, and commended Professor Jega and his team for putting Nigeria back on the path of reckoning by international community.

The President condemned the recent crisis that trailed the results of the elections and vow to run an all inclusive government that will provide jobs for the teaming unemployed youths that are usually the willing tool in perpetrating such crisis.

According to Jonathan, “We thank God. It is God that made it possible if it is man it wouldn’t have been possible.

President Jonathan (left) collecting his Certificate of Return from INEC boss Jega (right)

“Secondly, we want to appreciate Nigerians for the cooperation the gave to INEC and indeed this government and massively turning out on Saturday to vote for us. It shows you are patriotic, we watched on television, we saw old people some of them more than 100 years old come out to vote.

“We really have to commend INEC, Professor Jega and his team has made Nigeria proud. Before now the international observers use to paint our elections in different colours but this year’s elections first that of the National Assembly and then the presidential, the information we have received and what we have read in the papers is that they have given us a pass mark. It has to be so because of the competence of INEC officers and the position of not compromising your independence. We thank you, all Nigerians are happy because you have placed us on higher rank of the ladder and others have seen us as people who can conduct credible elections.

“This is beginning of good governance, this is a beginning of economic development, this is the beginning of major changes in this country.

“We hope that by the grace of God the last leg of election coming on the 26th will be better than the presidential elections”, he said.

Continuing, Jonathan said it was regrettable that the elections were trailed by crisis in some states despite international commendation.

“It is regrettable that when international observers are commending us for credible elections, we witnessed some skemishes in parts of the country. It is really regrettable, this is what happened in the late 50s when some parts of the country witnessed things like this. But that is what the new generation leaders have to face. We will make sure that in the next four years issues like this will not lead to riot. We assure Nigerians we will carry everyone along, we will run an open government where all Nigerians will play a key role irrespective of party affiliation.

“For those who have lost families, properties, we assure them that we will look into all the issues, we will take inventory of all the properties destroyed to ensure that similar things don’t happen again.

“We use this opportunity to appeal to all leaders and religious leaders to condemn the act so that our country will witness major development. Nobody will want to invest in a place that is unstable, that people fight, kill and destroy. Most of the youths involved in this act from what we can see, look like unemployed young people.

“These are people we are committed to change their lives, these are people we must find jobs for them so that they will no longer be tools.

“We believe that when INEC will conduct the 2015 election it will not lead to riot. It is a challenge that we must all take up”, he said.