Nigeria needs competent hands – Tinubu
President-elect Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is not keen on government of national unity, his plan is bigger and
better.
Tinubu is for a government of national competence; he will not choose his appointees on religious
affiliations.
A signed statement on Thursday titled, “Nigeria: At the Cusp of Renewed Hope,” states: “As your
incoming president, I accept the task before me. There have been talks of a government of national
unity. My aim is higher than that. I seek a government of national competence. In selecting my
government, I shall not be weighed down by considerations extraneous to ability and performance. The
day for political gamesmanship is long gone. I shall assemble competent men and women and young
people from across Nigeria to build a safer, more prosperous and just Nigeria. There shall be young
people. Women shall be prominent.
Whether your faith leads you to pray in a church or mosque will not determine your place in government. Character and competence will.
“A fair, credible election has been held and has been won. The honour of that victory and the steep responsibility it entails has fallen on me. I say this not to gloat or boast because there is no room for such behaviour. I merely state the facts as they are. I realise many good and well-meaning Nigerians
voted for other candidates. They are naturally disappointed that their favoured candidate did not win. Other candidates have voiced their dissatisfaction, stating they will go to court to contest the election. This is inherent to the democratic process. We defend their right to seek legal recourse. While they exercise the legal rights afforded them in our democracy, I have set my course and mind on the leadership of this nation. We have important work to do and I am committed to getting that work done for the benefit of all the people, whether or not they voted for me or even voted at all.’’
Tinubu added that negative things could hamper national growth, whereas “… unity and national
commitment can serve that purpose. Critics of Nigeria have been too quick to conclude that our political
system is fragmented because of the impressive showing of new parties and their candidates. “These
critics are wrong. The emergence of the new parties and their candidates underscores the dynamic
strength of our democracy. People want democracy to work and they want to have their voices heard
and interests met within it. This is a good thing to be promoted, not something to be feared,’’
The growth of parties is not of concern here but the regrowth of old prejudices and bigotries such as
ethnicity, creed and place of origin, according to Tinubu.
He observed that at some point the citizens must decide whether they shall be enticed by the ills of the
past or more bravely and nobly be encouraged by the eminent prospect of a brighter future. “There
have been times in our past when our governing institutions created more questions than they
answered. But the arc of our political history gives me confidence that we can overcome that past. We
have walked through the thick of the night to emerge into the light of brighter days to come. There is no
good reason to retreat into the darkness of years past.’’
On nation rebuilding, he said, “We must begin to repair and rebuild this national home of ours. There is
time to complete the task, but time is also of the essence. We must not tarry or fret over the enormity
of what we face. We are able of mind and body. Now, we must show the spirit and willpower to
accomplish the historic things that lie within our grasp.
“We have bridges and roads to build not just for commerce and travel but to connect people of different
faiths, parties and different outlooks in harmonious dialogue and common purpose. We have families to
feed not just to eliminate hunger but to nurture enlightenment, civic responsibility and compassion. We
have jobs to create not merely to put people to work but to afford a better standard of living by which
families and communities are improved and democracy deepened. We have water to replenish not just
to quench physical thirst but to ignite a thirst for creative and better solutions to society’s challenges.
We have a nation to protect such that we eliminate danger and even the fear of danger. May all of our
people be able to live their lives in the light of peace and the glow of broadening prosperity.’’
