- Be father to all – Ooni tasks Buhari
BY EDMOND ODOK, ABUJA – The Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar III has described President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election for another four-year term as an act of God Almighty that no one should bother to challenge.
This is even as the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has challenged the President to shun all negative political tendencies in the country and be the father to all Nigerians
According to Sultan Abubakar, the February 23 presidential election outcome is what has been ordained by God for the country and called on all Nigerians to accept it as such.
Speaking when he led the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN) to congratulate President Buhari at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja, Sultan Abubakar urged all Nigerians to give the President maximum support in the overall interest of peace, development and progress of the country.
He said; “Your election as president for the second tenure should be seen as what God has destined which no man could have changed that destiny”, adding; “This result is the will of the Almighty God and therefore we call on all to give you maximum support for the achievement of peace, development and progress of our dear nation.”
Sultan Abubakar, who is the Council’s National Chairman, however charged President Buhari to reciprocate the people’s gesture by ensuring his administration is fair and just to all Nigerians irrespective of geo-political backgrounds.
“We urge you Mr President to reciprocate by continuing to lead with justice and fairness as you openly said in your acceptance speech after the receipt of the certificate of return” the royal father said.
The Sultan said the Council is committed to offering unflinching support to the federal government’s cardinal objectives of securing the country, transforming the economy and fighting corruption.
Also speaking at the occasion, the Council’s co-Chairman and the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, pledged their resolve to partner with the Federal Government for the general good of Nigerians and Nigeria.
He urged the president to have a listening ear for those criticizing his administration in `a very constructive manner’, adding; “We know that you are very passionate about the people of this country, especially the common people.”
The Ooni urged Mr President not to shirk his fatherly responsibilities to all Nigerians, saying; “Let the whole nation see you as the true father; let the whole nation see you as the true president that will actually consolidate what has brought all of us together.”
In his response, President Buhari pleaded for more understanding and support from the royal fathers as the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration strives to take the country to the ‘Next Level’ of development and prosperity.
While thanking God for the opportunity to serve Nigeria for another four years, President Buhari expressed his unshakable faith in Nigeria’s multi-cultural population and its continued existence as one indissoluble entity.
According to the President, who appreciated the traditional rulers for congratulating him on his second and final term victory at the poll, “I believe in this system; such a multi-national and multi-cultural country like Nigeria, a country with more than 250,000 cultures.”
He said given their unique position in society, the royal fathers have an important role to play in securing and developing the country in partnership with government at all levels.
The President, while imploring them to help expose and bring to justice all criminal elements within their communities, said; “As traditional rulers, you know everybody in your constituencies and you know which family has hardened criminals and which family has respectable people so there is no way any government at any level can survive creditably without your support.
“This is the honest fact whether people accept it or not. So, we always depend on you because you know the weaknesses of our system and the society. We certainly need your cooperation on day to day basis to make sure that we consolidate on what we promised the whole country.”
He said the Federal government therefore takes collaboration with the traditional institutions seriously in its efforts to enhance the security in the country, which is very important as one of its three key areas of focus.
The royal fathers’ visit to the President is coming on the heels of Atiku Abubakar and opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s decision to challenge the February 23, 2019 election result at the Tribunal over what they described as massive electoral fraud.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had on Wednesday, February 27 declared President Buhari as winner of the presidential poll.
The electoral umpire adjudged him as having polled 15,191,847 votes and winning in 19 states, to defeat 72 other candidates, including Atiku Abubakar, who amassed a total of 11, 255,978 votes.
