The President-elect Bola Tinubu has beseeched Nigerians who voted against him to take behind the losses of their preferred candidates in the last presidential election and support his government by playing the role of patriotic opposition to his government.
He said he will run a government that is all-inclusive not just for those who believed in his vision for the country and voted for him.
Supporters of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, who are knowns as Obidients and that of the flagbearer of the Peoples Democratic Party popularly called the Atikulates are yet to come to terms with the losses of the choices but Tinubu said he is not asking them to abandon their political preferences but should support his government in a patriotic manner.
“I ask that we work together as Nigerians for Nigeria. Those who voted for me, I ask that you continue to believe in our policies and plans for the country. I also ask that you reach out to your brothers and sisters who did not vote as you did. Extend to them the hand of friendship, reconciliation and togetherness. To those of you who did not vote for me, I ask you to believe in Nigeria and in the capacity of your fellow citizens, even those who voted differently than you. The better Nigeria I seek is not just for me and my supporters. It is equally yours.
“I do not ask you to abandon your political preferences. That would be undemocratic. I do beseech you to answer the call of patriotic duty as the loyal opposition. Remain loyal to the cause of a greater, more tolerant and just Nigeria. I too shall keep faith with this objective”, he added.
Reacting to concerns about the proliferation of political parties, Tinubu said what must concern Nigerians is not the growth of parties but the regrowth of old prejudices and bigotries such as ethnicity, creed and place of origin.
