A group, the South West Security Think Tank Forum has congratulated the President-Elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his remarkable victory in the February 25 presidential election. The Forum commended the doggedness and tenacity of the former Governor of Lagos State throughout the process leading to his election as the 16th President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria after a tedious campaign and hard fought battle at the polls. It stated that the victory no doubt came at a price but noting that no price is too high in the pursuit of good governance, fairness, equity, prosperity and improved standard of living for all Nigerians. It also congratulated the ruling All Progressives Congress, giving special praises to the 10 APC Northern Governors who choose unity above primordial sentiments by insisting that power must shift to the South.  

The Forum commended the other presidential candidates for weathering the stormy long and tedious campaign and called on those aggrieved to pursue their legitimate cause through judicial avenue as provided in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In doing this, they must also reach out and calm the palpable tension by appealing to their supporters not to resort to violence. It further called on the President Elect, Bola Tinubu to as a matter of urgency embark on deliberate and true process to unify the people, repair all the cracks in the nation, give all citizens a sense of belonging, allow equal opportunities for all citizens, assuage all aggrieved sections and segments of the society and above all, deliver on good governance. The Forum reminded the new leader that it is the Almighty God that has made him the president of Nigeria, for the benefit of all Nigerians, and prayed that his tenure will engender peace and prosperity for all Nigerians.

On the lingering issue of insecurity, the Forum urged the President Elect to hit the ground running by taking a holistic review of the nation’s security architecture, build on the achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari and ensure that every part of Nigeria is safe and secure as promised in his campaign manifestoes. It reminded the new leader that security is crucial to effective functioning of the socio-political environment. The forum commended the President-Elect for dousing tension with his highly inspiring and motivational acceptance speech, giving him kudos for acknowledging the voice of the teeming youths. It advised the new leader to match his plans with actions that would rekindle hope in the youths and indeed all Nigerians. According to the Forum, he has done it before in Lagos State, and it believes he can do it again at the national level. Finally, the Forum commended President Muhammadu Buhari, a man who stands by his words, for allowing a level playing ground and refusing to interfere in the electoral process, noting that posterity will be kind to him for his commitment to a new Nigeria that is emerging from many years of misrule.