We may return to the Creeks, says Asari-Dokubo

A former Niger-Delta militant, Mujahid Asari-Dokubo, says with the defeat of President Goodluck Jonathan, he and other militants may be forced to return to the creeks.

Asari-Dokubo, who hails from the same state as Jonathan, said the voting pattern showed that the South-West and the North ganged up against the South-South and South-East geo-political zones.

The ex-militant said in a statement by his spokesperson, Rex Anighoro, that it was unfair that the minorities were being emasculated by the majority ethnic groups.  He said he feared that the government of the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, would be vicious.

Asari-Dokubo said,

“The conditions that advanced the need to embrace the creeks have been sadly re-energised. It is clear that a vicious government who may maim and murder the voice of the so-called minorities may have just been birthed.  “Indeed integration is non-existent as regional gang-ups and supremacy is symbolic with this victory.”

The ex-militant, who had in January said he and his colleagues would wreak havoc if Jonathan lost the election, praised the President for being a true statesman.  He said it was the struggle of the militants that led to the Jonathan presidency.  Asari-Dokubo said since the South-South had lost the presidency, ex-militants would meet to decide the next line of action.

He said,

“While President Jonathan enjoys his moments and basks in the euphoria of a new world-renowned statesman having congratulated Muhammadu Buhari, we must quickly be reminded that our struggle was never about Jonathan or about the presidency.  “President Jonathan is an establishment beneficiary of our struggle, our sweat and blood that many bled and died for. He was never in the struggle and he can never wish away our collective march for statesmanship.

“Yes indeed, to an extent, he was a mitigating factor in self-determination pursuit as we went on sabbatical. This mitigation he seems to have willingly repudiated. The days coming will be critical. We shall study all the conditions and consult widely before determining the way forward for our collective existence and survival as a people. The days coming shall either drive the quest of integration or further separate us.”

Jega & his colleague profs

Watching how the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, was relating with his colleagues, all professors and heads of universities in the country, at the presidential election collation centre, is a lesson in civility for us all to imbibe.

You could see the show of respect from these distinguished academia to their colleague, Prof. Jega in their presentation of the collated presidential election results, notwithstanding that they are equal in the academics.

This culture of respect exhibited by these professors is a challenge to our youths to emulate. Respect your elders and those in authority with civility. But the challenge to the system now is that; how will a successor in office to Jega, who is not an academia draw from this poll of academia? This is a food for thought.

Prof. Jega, well done for this initiative in election process management.

Gabriel Ipheghe,

206 Road, FESTAC Town,

Lagos State,

+2348022920

Palestine Officially joins ICC

Palestine has formally attained membership of the International Criminal Court, a move that could open the door to possible war crime indictments against Israeli officials despite uncertainty over its wider ramifications.


The accession on Wednesday is another landmark in the Palestinian diplomatic and legal international campaign, which gained steam in 2014.

The Palestinians moved to join The Hague-based court on January 2, in a process that was finalised on Wednesday, setting the scene for potential legal action.

“Palestine has and will continue to use all legitimate tools within its means in order to defend itself against Israeli colonisation and other violations of international law,” said senior Palestinian official Saeb Erakat.

Al Jazeera’s Jonah Hull, reporting from The Hague, said despite their membership, the Palestinians may still have to wait for the ICC to begin investigating Israelis accused of war crimes.

“This is such a heavily politicised case, that the court will have to think hard before taking action against the Israelis. It may be years before we something.”

Diana Chehade, a former ICC official, told Al Jazeera, preliminary examinations could be completed by the end of this year, but the court would not investigate cases already being looked in to by other judicial institutions.

“Based on the principle of complimentarity, the ICC would not investigate if an Israeli judicial institution is investigating a war crime to ICC standards,” Chehade said.

20 dead, 36 injured in Afghan suicide bombing

Details later

Students held hostage in Kenya university attack

Masked gunmen have attacked a university in the town of Garissa in northeast Kenya, police said, as ongoing gunfire could be heard from the university premises.

Witnesses said explosion and heavy gunfire rocked Garissa University College early on Thursday as the gunmen stormed the complex. Ambulances were seen driving injured students to local hospitals.

The gunmen were holding an “unknown number of student hostages,” the Kenya Red Cross said in a statement. Some “50 students have been safely freed”, the organisation said.

Police spokesperson Zipporah Mboroki told Al Jazeera that the situation is ongoing and that the gunmen were holed up inside the university complex.

“The attackers shot the guards at the entrance of the university. Police officers responded but the attackers managed to get into the [university] hostel,” she said.

“We can confirm that two watchmen were killed; we cannot confirm student casualties,” Mboroki added.

Local journalists, however, reported that at least 10 bodies were brought to a hospital in Garissa.

“The Kenyan Defence Force and all security agencies within Garissa have been deployed to the scene,” Mboroki said.

The attack on the university facility began at dawn, Alinoor Moulid, a freelance journalist based in Garissa, told Al Jazeera.

“According to some of the students who escaped, there are around five gunmen and they entered the university dormitory while students were sleeping,” Moulid said.

“It is hard to tell [about casualties] because the area is now cordoned off, and it is heavily guarded,” he added.

Letter To Mr President

Mr. President Sir,

I have watched in the past years up till this moment how things have unfolded since you came into power as The President Of The Federal Republic Of Nigeria and I will commend your efforts so far amidst criticisms this letter might bring up from anyone.

Sir, you are the only president I know that has ruled with so much pain, pressure, abuses, attacks, hate and still, in one way or the other made meaningful progress in this nation whether haters accept it or not. Sometimes I wonder if you eat well, sleep well or even have a personal time with yourself, your wife and your family.

Sir, you developed other parts of this country so well, still they couldn’t stand for you when you needed them, and the South that was yet to enjoy you as their son still stood by you and gave you their votes. This just goes to show that blood indeed is thicker than water. You are our own and we will never reject or abandon you.

As you have accepted our new President Elect General Muhammadu Buhari so have we, and as we love you, so do we equally have a deep regard for him.

You are the only selfless Nigerian President who had no problem giving up his dreams, aspirations and ambition for the safety of his people. For this sir, we owe you a debt of eternal gratitude, for you have given us a new story for our children, a new song in our mouth. You actually achieved your transformation agenda by transforming Nigerian politics, the People’s Democratic Party, Nigerian History and so many other sectors.

A president that was highly and widely scorned is now a president that is highly and widely celebrated, one to reckon with.

Take a bow Mr. President, for you have rewritten our political history.

You are a legend and my hero sir, THANK YOU.

 

Signed

A Nigerian citizen with the love of country at heart!

 

Abang Dove is a writer, a poet, an entrepreneur and an activist, she blogs HERE tweets @abangdove and you can also reach her HERE

PDP congratulates Buhari, alleges irregularities

The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party has congratulated Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari(retd.) for winning the March 28 Presidential Election.

It said if the outcome of the election, which its candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan, lost, was the wishes of the people, it would respect it.

The party’s position was contained in a statement by its National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mua’zu, in Abuja on Thursday.

His position appears to be at variance with the views expressed by agents of the party during the collation of the votes in Abuja early this week.

One of the party’s agents, Col. Bello Fadile(retd.), had said the party would challenge the outcome of the election at the election petitions tribunal.

Mua’zu, in his statement, also said the party noticed some irregularities in the conduct of the election.

The party’s complaints on such irregularities, he said, would be channelled through the appropriate quarters.

The former governor of Bauchi State nevertheless went ahead to congratulate Buhari for winning the election.

He said, “We also congratulate the APC flag bearer, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari, for his resilience and victory in this election while wishing him success in the onerous task of leading our nation once again.”

Details later…

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Major A. Hassan Passes on !

Major A. Hassan was killed on Sunday March 29 by Boko Harram men that assaulted Bauchi state. He was the flush authority of 33 ordnance Brigade, Bauchi.

Sun re O. Ase !

Photos: PDP Governors pay solidarity visit to President Jonathan.

PDP Governors led by the Chairman of the PDP governors forum, Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom state, paid a solidarity visit to President Jonathan at the Presidential villa yesterday April 1st.


The governors inattendance were Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta); Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe); Ramalan Yero (Kaduna); Lyel Imoke (Cross River); Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa); Sullivan Chime (Enugu); Jonah Jang (Plateau); Martin Elechi (Eboyi); and Idris Wada (Kogi).

Speaking with newsmen.

Mama Peace calls on Nigerian women to support Mrs Buhari

1st Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan has approached all Nigerian ladies to show backing to the approaching first woman, Mrs Aisha Buhari.


In a celebratory message signed by her media assistant, Ayo Adewuyi, Mrs Jonathan wished Mrs Buhari well in her new errand as First Lady of Nigeria.

“The First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan (Mama Peace) has congratulated the wife of the President elect, Hajia Aisha Buhari on the election of her husband, Gen Muhammadu Buhari. The First Lady appeals to the Nigerian women to work with Hajia Aisha Buhari and give her the maximun support to make her succeed in her new assignment. The First Lady (Mama Peace) wishes her well in her new task.” the message read in part

OBJ writes GMB a letter

The full text of the letter below…

I hasten to congratulate you on your success and victory in the Presidential Elections of March 28, 2015. Your success and victory after three previous unsuccessful attempts must be great object lessons for you and for all politicians, particularly in Nigeria. For me, the totality of 2015 elections hold many lessons for our democracy and democratisation process, which are both maturing. On this occasion, the system has been unnecessarily overheated before and particularly during the campaigns when emphasis was more on trivialities and hate, divisive, undignifying and disrespectful statements and comments rather than on pressing issues requiring attention.

I know that in victory, you will be magnanimous to start binding the wounds and bitterness occasioned by the campaign and the evil disciples.

With so much harm already done to many national institutions including the military, which proudly nurtured you and me, you will have a lot to do on institution reform, education, healthcare, economy, security, infrastructure, power, youth employment, agribusiness, oil and gas, external affairs, cohesiveness of our nation and ridding our land of corruption.

Your varied and wide experience will undoubtedly stand you in good stead. I am also sure that there are men and women of goodwill, character and virtue across the board that you can mobilise to join hands with you in the reform, repairs and redirection that will be imperative to put Nigeria back on the fast lane of good governance, unity, cohesiveness, development and progress.

Once again, I felicitate with you and wish you well.

01.04.2015 Ukrainian crisis news. Latest news of Ukraine, Kiev, USA, Lukashenko

31.03.2015 Ukrainian crisis news. War in Ukraine, DPR, Poroshenko, Yatsenuk, India

Ribadu praises Nigerians, congratulates Buhari, Jonathan

A former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Nuhu Ribadu, has commended Nigerians for the orderly manner in which they conducted themselves during the just-concluded national election and its aftermath.

Mr. Ribadu who praised President Goodluck Jonathan for providing a level playing field for free and fair election, also congratulated the president-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) for what he described as a hard-earned victory.

He stressed the need for fairness and justice to all as requisites for achieving national unity and integration.

A statement issued in Yola by Mr. Ribadu’s media aide, Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, quoted the Adamawa State Peoples Democratic Party candidate in the April 11 governorship election, as hailing the Nigerian electorate for “mature and orderly manner during the polls and their reaction to the results” saying that attitude “has shamed agents of doom”.

He said the peaceful conduct and sportsmanship exhibited at the polls despite passion and high hopes from both sides were signs that “Nigeria’s democracy has come of age.

“I am particularly happy that despite ominous predictions of violence, the process has come and gone peacefully,” Mr. Ribadu noted, “Credit should go to President Goodluck Jonathan who promptly conceded and called for calm.”

According to him, “the two leading candidates demonstrated exemplary restraint and maturity by staying resolute and focused and by their refusal to be dragged into attacking each other throughout the campaign period”.

Mr. Ribadu called on the electorates to reflect this conduct when they return to the booth to elect governors and state assembly members on April 11.

“It is important to note that at the end of the day, our country, our states and democracy should be made the ultimate winners”.

“As we approach the next round of election, we should remember that the first winner should be our states and our people, thus the need to be peaceful conduct,” statement further added.

Gani Adams praises Buhari, says he’s Nigeria’s Abraham Lincoln

The Oodua Peoples Congress on Wednesday sent a congratulatory message to President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, over his election victory.

The National Coordinator of the Congress, Gani Adams, in the congratulatory message made available to PREMIUM TIMES said the success of Mr. Buhari at the election across the country proved he is the choice of the people. Mr. Adams commended him for his resilience and tenacity over the years.

“I wish to send my congratulations to the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, on his success in the recently-concluded presidential election. By his resounding success in the election across the country, General Buhari has proved that he is the choice of the people,” Mr. Adams stated.

“I commend his resilience and tenacity over the years which have seen him equal the record of great leaders like Abraham Lincoln of the USA. His victory is a lesson to all of us that we can be what we want to be if we are patient and persistent in our legitimate pursuits in life”.

“His speeches before, during and after the election are also commendable because they went a long way in dousing the tension in the country.

This actually shows that the ‘Peoples General’ as he is fondly called is indeed a statesman’.

The Congress leader called on Mr. Buhari to begin to see himself as the president-elect of all Nigerians and not just that of the All Progressives Congress.

“However, having won the election, I want the president-elect to begin to see himself as the president-elect of all Nigerians and not just that of the All Progressives Congress (APC). For him, it is time to mend whatever differences that may have arisen as a result of the election.

“It is time for all Nigerians, irrespective of political affiliation, to come together to continue to build our nation in a positive way, which of course, should be the focus of the president-elect himself and every other political leader across the various political parties in the country”, Mr. Adams said.

“And for all of us, it is a new dawn in the annals of the country for an opposition party to win in a popular election.

Mr. Adams also congratulated President Goodluck Jonathan for creating a level-playing ground for all the parties that contested the election and the high spirit of sportsmanship he displayed when he called to congratulate the president-elect even before all the results were released.

“By his action, President Jonathan has truly lived up to his statement that his ambition is not worth the life of any Nigerian. This is an exemplary feat, which any other presidents coming after him must not fall short of achieving.

“And to all Nigerians, who by their participation in the election also deserve kudos as they defied the weather, distance and other hurdles to cast their votes. Their actions have revealed that democracy in the country has come to stay”.

“I urge them not to rest on their oars as their consistency in holding leaders accountable to their promises will go a long way in bringing out the best from the public office holders.

Mr. Adams was among notable personalities in the South-West opposed to Mr. Buhari’s election.

Shortly before the election, he organised a pro-Jonathan rally in Lagos which turned violent.

He promised to deliver six million votes to Mr. Jonathan, but he was unable to do so.
Source

Lobatan!! Nigerian Pr*stitutes Congratulate Buhari, Declare Nationwide Free S*x

The National Association of Nigeria Pr*stitutes, NANP, has congratulated the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari on his victory in the just concluded presidential election.

The group while describing Buhari’s emergence as the president-elect as victory for all Nigerians, equally saluted the outgoing leader, President Goodluck Jonathan for accepting defeat without pushing further.

Restating its earlier promise, the group said it is declaring three days of free s*x nationwide to celebrate Buhari’s victory.

The group had in a statement issued in January promised declare a-three day free s*x across the country if president Jonathan eventually loses the seat to Gen. Muhammadu Buhari of APC.

NANP in a text message forwarded to DAILY POST Wednesday morning urged its members nationwide to comply with the directive.

The terse statement sent by its National Secretary, Jessica Elvis called on Buhari to legalise commercial s*x work as well as improve their welfare.

“Hi Ameh, please kindly extend NANP’s felicitation to Gen. Buhari for winning the presidential election. On behalf of every member of NANP, we heartily congratulate the People’s General for winning the poll. As part of our earlier promise, we will be declaring a three-day free s*x nationwide. We want all our members to honour this directive. We want to use this privilege to beg the President-elect to look into the welfare of this association. We believe his victory will surely better this harmless struggle,” the SMS read.

Source: Dailypost

President Goodluck Jonathan deserves a Nobel Peace prize - Reno Omokri

Do you agree with Reno  ?

Guardians of the Galaxy: Russia Creates International Space Patrol

Russia’s Ministry of Defense on April 1 established the Aerospace Monitoring Forces (AMF) tasked with providing security to spacecraft and the International Space Station (ISS) and enforcing international rules of space conduct.

© Sputnik/ Alexander Mokletsov

 

The military corps, dubbed the Space Patrol by the Russian media, will carry out joint missions in cooperation with similar forces under development in other countries across the globe, including the United States, China and Germany.

The United Nations welcomed Russia’s initiative, adding it could lead to a binding international agreement.The AMF will use an extensive network of satellites and ground stations to track those, who break international law, especially space traffic regulations. The agency will also carry out three month space missions to the International Space Station and fly daily orbital patrols.

Russia’s space patrol will use refurbished Soyuz spacecraft to conduct observation flights, chase abusers of the international space law and even collect space junk, experts at Russia’s Space Research and Intergalactic Standards Center told Sputnik.

Russia’s Ministry of Defense also plans deep-space missions to provide security to the distant regions of outer space, often used for lucrative illegal activity, including alien weapons and drug trafficking, as well as money laundering.

 

US plans massive military operations inside USA in response to statement from Chechnya Parliament speaker

Next summer, starting from July 15, US forces may launch military exercises in the states of Arizona, Colorado, Texas, Utah, Nevada and California.


Jade Helm, a representative of the US Army Command, stated that the drills would come as a response to the recent statement from the Speaker of the Parliament of the Russian Republic of Chechnya, Dukuvakh Abdurakhmanov, who said earlier that Chechnya could start arms shipments to Mexico, should the United States decide ship lethal weapons to Ukraine.

 

Abdurakhmanov also said that he hoped the weapons would spark disputes over “territories annexed by the United States in the American states of California, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, and part of Wyoming,” providing a U.S. history lesson by invoking “the annexation of Texas in 1845, the negotiation of the Oregon Treaty with Great Britain in 1846, and the conclusion of the Mexican-American War in 1848, which ended with the signing and ratification of the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo in 1848.”

Noteworthy, many US and foreign politicians believe that the above-mentioned drills would be conducted as a cover up to impose martial law in the aforementioned states. However, Lt. Col. of US Armed Forces, Mark Lastoria, stressed that it would be “routine training to maintain a high level of readiness for Army Special Operations Forces because they must be ready to support potential missions anywhere in the world on a moment’s notice.”

Bello El-Rufai & fiancee to wed today

Bello, one of the children of previous FCT Minister and APC Kaduna state gubernatorial applicant, Nasir El-Rufai willl start his voyage to conjugal exctasy with his lady, Regina today April first


Bello declared his wedding plans in February not long from now.

Congratulations to them.

My attacks on Buhari, APC, not personal – Fani Kayode

The spokesperson for President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign team, Femi Fani-Kayode, on Wednesday stated that all his attacks against the president-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, and his party, the All Progressives Congress, during the electioneering, were what his job required of him and not personal.

He also commended the APC campaign directorate for doing something “they believe in”.

“There was absolutely nothing personal as regards this Directorate or myself. I had nothing personal against anybody. I was simply doing my job for which I have no regrets and I wish them well and I sincerely hope that they will take Nigeria to a level that we can all be proud of,” he said.

Mr. Fani-Kayode also congratulated Mr. Buhari for his victory and also commended President Jonathan for conceding defeat.

“We start by saying that we commend and we congratulate General Muhammadu Buhari for winning this election. We also wish to commend our President, President Goodluck Jonathan, for having the courage to concede that he has lost the election at the earliest moment and also for being able to stand up and rise above party politics and being able to speak like a statesman,” he said.

The former Aviation Minister also prayed for peace in the country and success for Mr. Buhari.

“May God grant each and everyone of us peace. May He watch over our nation. May He guide our President for the next two months whilst he is still in power and thereafter and may He guide and lead the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, in the herculean task that lies ahead for him.

“My prayer is that he brings our nation together, heals the wounds and that he builds the bridges in terms of religion, ethnicity and region that he needs to build in order for us to make Nigeria a better place and to ensure that Nigeria becomes a great country that she is destined to be,” he said.

He called on Nigerians to continue to support the PDP, despite losing the election.

He also asked for full cooperation to the incoming administration “and to remember that we are first and foremost Nigerians before anything else”.

Mr. Fani-Kayode said he had no regret for serving Mr. Jonathan and the PDP. He also advised the PDP not to lose hope.

“And having lost, it does not mean that it is the end to the world, it just means that we need to re-group, re-organise ourselves and begin the process all over again because another elections will come in a few years’ time.

“And that is where we are today. We have conceded that we have lost. We acknowledge the fact that we fought a good fight. We do not have any fears about the future. We did the right thing during the campaign. We have no regrets about our candidate or the way in which we conducted our campaign and we will live to fight another day,” he said.

NASA Tests Flying Saucer With Sights Set on Mars in 2020

Thought they were just the stuff of science fiction movies? Not if NASA has anything to say about it. Agency researchers are developing a spacecraft that looks just like a flying saucer, with the hopes of helping a manned mission to Mars one day land softly on the Red Planet.

Mars has a tricky “in-between” environment, according to NASA. Unlike Earth, which has a dense atmosphere, or the moon, which has no atmosphere at all, Mars has too much atmosphere to allow heavy payloads to land with rockets alone, but too little atmosphere to make parachutes effective at slowing down spacecraft as they approach the ground.

Members of the media got an up-close look at LDSD flight-test vehicles currently in preparation in the clean room at NASA-JPL on March 31.

As means to fix the problem, NASA on Tuesday showed off the fruits of its Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD) program: essentially a combination balloon and flying saucer.

The craft, which is being developed in six- and eight-meter versions, will create friction as it spins, slowing a payload down enough for the 30.5 meter parachute to allow for a reasonable landing. The saucer is also equipped with a rocket to help in the process.

At #jpl. Gallery looking down at Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator. Will see one spin in the clean room today #LDSD pic.twitter.com/arbJtWLux3

— Zen Vuong (@zenReport) March 31, 2015

Engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab in California put the saucer on a spin table to ensure it’s balanced properly for flight.

In June, it’ll be launched into near-space from the Navy’s Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kauai, Hawaii.

The drag system could be put into practice as early as 2020.

Jonathan behind closed-doors meeting withPDP governors.

President Goodluck Jonathan is currently meeting behind closed-doors with state governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.

The governors were led to the Presidential Villa, Abuja, venue of the meeting, by the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State at about 4.40pm.

Other governors in attendance are Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta); Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe); Ramalan Yero (Kaduna); Lyel Imoke (Cross River); Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa); Sullivan Chime (Enugu); Jonah Jang (Plateau); Martin Elechi (Eboyin); and Idris Wada (Kogi),

PDP governors who are not at the meeting included Sule Lamido (Jigawa); Isa Yuguda (Bauchi); Babangida Aliyu (Niger); Gabriel Suswam (Benue); Ibrahim Shema (Katsina); Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo) and Ayo Fayose (Ekiti).

Among the absentees, only Fayose delivered his state for the President during the Saturday’s presidential election.

Acceptance Statement by General Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR

The Die is Cast Acceptance Statement by General Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, President-Elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria April 1st, 2015 I am immensely grateful to God for this day and for this hour. I feel truly honoured and humbled that the Nigerian people have so clearly chosen me to lead them.


The official announcement from INEC was the moment the vast majority of Nigerians had hoped and been waiting for. Today, history has been made, and change has finally come. Your votes have changed our national destiny for the good of all Nigerians .

INEC has announced that I, Muhammadu Buhari, shall be your next president. My team and I shall faithfully serve you. There shall no longer be a ruling party again: APC will be your governing party. We shall faithfully serve you. We shall never rule over the people as if they were subservient to government. Our long night has passed and the daylight of new democratic governance has broken across the land. This therefore is not a victory for one man or even one party. It is a victory for Nigeria and for all Nigerians. Millions of you have worked for this day. So many have risked life and livelihood; and others have died that we may witness this moment. And it is with a very heavy heart that I report many deaths and injuries amidst the jubilations yesterday.

We send our sincere condolences to the families and friends of those who lost their lives; and wish speedy recovery to those who suffered injuries. I appeal to all our supporters to celebrate this victory with prayers and reflection instead of wild jubilation. May the souls of those who died rest in peace. Let us take a moment of silence to honour all of those whose sacrifices have brought us to this fine and historic hour. As the results of the election have shown, their labor has not been and will never be in vain. Democracy and the rule of law will be re-established in the land. Page 1 Let us put the past, especially the recent past, behind us. We must forget our old battles and past grievances—and learn to forge ahead. I assure you that our government is one that will listen to and embrace all.

I pledge myself and our in-coming administration to just and principled governance. There shall be no bias against or favouritism for any Nigerian based on ethnicity, religion, region, gender or social status. I pledge myself and the government to the rule of law, in which none shall be so above the law that they are not subject to its dictates, and none shall be so below it that they are not availed of its protection. You shall be able to go to bed knowing that you are safe and that your constitutional rights remain in safe hands. You shall be able to voice your opinion without fear of reprisal or victimisation. My love and concern for this nation and what I desire for it extends to all, even to those who do not like us or our politics. You are all my people and I shall treat everyone of you as my own. I shall work for those who voted for me as well as those who voted against me and even for those who did not vote at all. We all live under one name as one nation: we are all Nigerians. Some unfortunate issues about my eligibility have been raised during the campaign.

I wish to state that through devotion to this nation, everything I have learned and done has been to enable me to make the best possible contribution to public life. If I had judged myself incapable of governing I would never have sought to impose myself on it. I have served in various capacities and have always put in my best. But despite the rancour of the elections, I extend a hand of friendship and conciliation to President Jonathan and his team. I hereby wish to state that I harbour no ill will against anyone. Let me state clearly that President Jonathan has nothing to fear from me. Although we may not agree on the methods of governing the nation, he is a great Nigerian and still our president. He deserves our support and permanent respect by virtue of the office he has held. This is how an honourable nation treats its servants and conducts its affairs; and this is how Nigeria should be.

I look forward to meeting with President Jonathan in the days to come to discuss how our teams can make the transition of administrations as efficient as possible. Here, I want to thank my party for selecting me as its candidate. I thank our party leaders and members for the steadfast contributions they made to bring our dream to fruition. I thank INEC, the police and all other government agencies for performing their tasks in a proper manner and for refusing to be induced to undermine the election and the democratic process. I also wish to thank religious Leaders, traditional leaders, the media, labor unions, Civil Society organisations, organised private sector, youths and students for their roles in this election. I give special thanks to President Obama and his timely intervention and support for peaceful and credible elections in Nigeria and for sending Secretary John Kerry and other United States officials.

The European Union – especially the United Kingdom, France, Germany and other nations that were actively involved in ensuring the success of this election are equally appreciated. My sincere thanks to the United Nations Secretary General Mr Ban-Ki Moon. The Commonwealth, China, India and other Asian and Gulf states are also hereby appreciated. Finally our brothers in the African Union and ECOWAS have truly and clearly shown and demonstrate their commitment to our democratisation process. Former Presidents John Kuffour, Amos Sawyer, Bakili Muluzi and his team are well appreciated. I must also add my appreciation for the role played by civil societies, national and International observers, other world leaders in ensuring that Nigeria holds free and fair elections. I assure all foreign governments that Nigeria will become a more forceful and constructive player in the global fight against terrorism and in other matters of collective concern, such as the fight against drugs, climate change, financial fraud, communicable diseases and other issues requiring global response.

I want to assure our fellow African nations that Nigeria will now stand as a more constructive partner in advancing the matters of concern to our continent, particularly with regard to economic development and eradication of poverty. Page 3 Former head of state and president Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, General Yakubu Gowon, Alh. Shehu Shagari, General Ibrahim Babangida, Chief Ernest Shonekan and General Abdulsalami Abubakar deserve commendations for their statesmanship and words of caution and counsel for peace during the tense moments of this electoral period. Most of all, I thank the people of Nigeria for reposing their confidence in me at this trying moment. Our nation wrestles many challenges including insecurity, corruption, economic decline. I pledge to give you my best in tackling these problems. The good people of Nigeria, your obligation does not end with casting your ballot.

I seek your voice and input as we tackle these problems. This will not be a government democratic only in form. It will be a government democratic in substance and in how it interacts with its own people. No doubt, this nation has suffered greatly in the recent past, and its staying power has been tested to its limits by crises, chief among which is insurgency of the Boko Haram. There is no doubt that in tackling the insurgency we have a tough and urgent job to do. But I assure you that Boko Haram will soon know the strength of our collective will and commitment to rid this nation of terror, and bring back peace and normalcy to all the affected areas. We shall spare no effort until we defeat terrorism. Furthermore, we shall strongly battle another form of evil that is even worse than terrorism—the evil of corruption.

Corruption attacks and seeks to destroy our national institutions and character. By misdirecting into selfish hands funds intended for the public purpose, corruption distorts the economy and worsens income inequality. It creates a class of unjustly-enriched people. Such an illegal yet powerful force soon comes to undermine democracy because its conspirators have amassed so much money that they believe they can buy government. We shall end this threat to our economic development and democratic survival. I repeat that corruption will not be tolerated by this administration; and it shall no longer be allowed to stand as if it is a respected monument in this nation. Page 4 I ask you to join me in resolving these and the other challenges we face. Along the way, there will be victories but there may also be setbacks.

Mistakes will be made. But we shall never take you for granted; so, be rest assured that our errors will be those of compassion and commitment not of wilful neglect and indifference. We shall correct that which does not work and improve that which does. We shall not stop, stand or idle. We shall, if necessary crawl, walk and run to do the job you have elected us to do. I realise that the expectation of our people today is as high as their commitment to change has been strong and their belief in us unshaken. While we pledge to begin doing our best without delay, we would like to appeal to them to appreciate the gravity of our situation, so that we become more realistic in our expectations. We will govern for you and in your interests. Your vote was not wasted. This is not the first time Nigerians have cast their votes for us, and this is not the first time they have been counted; but this is the first time that the votes have been allowed to count.

With the help of God, we pledge to do our utmost to bring forth the Nigeria you seek. Thank you for your patience and attention. General Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR President-Elect, Federal Republic of Nigeria