Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, on Wednesday, in Abuja, felicitated the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, for emerging as the winner of the February 25 Presidential Election.
Osinbajo described the president-elect as a bridge builder whose immediate assignment is to reach out to disaffected sections of the electorate and to meet the expectations of the youth.
According to a statement signed on Wednesday by the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, Osinbajo said this when he joined other dignitaries at the international conference centre, Abuja, where Tinubu received his certificate of return from the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.
The statement is titled ‘Osinbajo to Tinubu: Your attributes, fidelity to progressive ideals needed at this time.’
In his address, the VP said “I warmly congratulate the flagbearer of our great party, the All Progressives Congress, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on his victory at the 2023 Presidential Elections, and his declaration as President-Elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“I also congratulate His Excellency, Senator Kashim Shettima on his declaration as Vice President-Elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Addressing the President-Elect, Osinbajo said “In your previous years of public service, you have demonstrated a consistent fidelity to progressive and welfarist ideals, and an ability to build bridges across several divides.
“These attributes are needed especially at this time, to reach out to disaffected sections of our society and to meet the aspirational expectations of our young people who have shown such a strong desire to impact our democratic process in a positive way.
“I trust that they will not allow whatever setbacks they may have experienced to truncate their strong desire to determine the future course of our national journey.”
He said through thick and thin, Nigerians must remain focused on the objective of birthing the Nigeria of their dreams.
“I pray that Almighty God will help you to fulfil the progressive mandate of our Party, as well as your various plans to improve the security, welfare and happiness of all Nigerians,” he added.
Earlier at the weekly Federal Executive Council, the VP led Federal Ministers to congratulate the former Lagos Governor, his wife and First Lady-Designate, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and the Vice President-Elect Senator Kashim Shettima.
The VP said, “We wish him the very best as he prepares to lead the country in the next few months.”
He then directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to formally convey the felicitations of the Council.
