President-elect Muhammadu Buhari has assured incumbent President Goodluck? Jonathan, that harbours no plans to witchhunt or jail him. Patience Jonathan, first lady, during the campaigns for her husband had urged Nigerians not to vote for Buhari on the grounds that he might send Jonathan to jail.
Speaking at a brief ceremony for the presentation of the certificate of return by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja on Wednesday, Buhari pledged to work with Jonathan and his team rather than throwing him into jail.
“I extend a hand of friendship to President Jonathan and his team,” he said. “I harbour no ill-will against anyone. President Jonathan has nothing to fear from me. He is a great Nigerian and I look forward to meeting with him and his team.”
The president-elect pledged to stamp out insurgency and corruption in the country while reiterating his commitment to ensure that Nigeria takes its place as the giant of Africa. He also emphasised that his government would be an all-inclusive one that would listen to all Nigerians.
“Democracy and the rule of law will be established in the land. I assure you that our government will listen to all,” he vowed. “There shall be no favouritism to anyone based on ethnicity, status or religion?. You shall go to bed and know you are in safe hands.”
Buhari also expressed joy that Nigerians elected him to lead them in the journey to? peace and progress. “I feel immensely grateful to God for this day and this hour. I feel truly honoured and humbled that the Nigerian ?people have chosen me as their president,” he said.
“Today history has been made and change has finally come. There shall no longer be a ruling party. The APC will be your governing party. “This is not just a victory for me,? it is a victory for all Nigerians. You are all my people and I shall treat you as one. “I shall work for those who voted for me, those who voted against me and those who did not vote at all.?”
