By: EBEN ENASCO KINGSLEY, BENIN
Benin City, the capital of Edo State was, Wednesday, thrown into jubilation as party faithful and supporters of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state, led by Governor Adams Oshiomhole, rolled out their drums and held a procession to celebrate the victory of General Muhammadu Buhari in the March 28 Presidential Polls.
Starting from the Benin City Airport, the APC supporters and lovers of General Buhari danced round major streets of Benin City before converging on Oba Ovoranmwen Square where a victory concert to celebrate the General’s victory was held.
Addressing the mammoth crowd at the Oba Ovoranmwen Square, Governor Oshiomhole said the victory of General Muhammadu Buhari was victory for the people, victory for the nation as well as victory for the nation’s democracy and thanked the people of the state for their support and for being part of the change story.
He said, “In Edo State, our promises cut across ethnic, religion and other primordial sentiments. So we felt tonight we should celebrate our country, we should celebrate democracy. The victory of Muhammadu Buhari is victory for Nigeria.
“He will be the driver; we are all co-drivers in the business of re positioning our great country. Thank you so much for your role. We also want to appreciate President Goodluck Jonathan tonight for being a statesman when he accepted defeat without any argument. He has led by example and I think we can build on that.
“You are the best, you are the greatest. Remember, we have one more lap to go, it is not over until it is over. I trust you will be there for us so that we will be there for you”, he said.
Top artistes from across the country including Patoranking, Timaya, Maleke, Osayomore Joseph, Bolivia Junior among others, were on ground to entertain the supporters who trooped out in their thousands to celebrate the historic victory.
Earlier, Fielding questions from Journalists at the Benin Airport on his arrival from Abuja where he joined other APC Chieftains to witness the Issuance of Certificate of Return to the President Elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Adams Oshiomhole congratulated the President-elect on his well-deserved victory and also commended President Jonathan for his statesmanship in conceding defeat even before the full results were announced, and implored other politicians to take a cue from his sportsmanship approach to politics.
Oshiomhole said, “I also think that we should appreciate the sitting President for accepting defeat in the way that he did. Again he will go down in history as the first Nigerian sitting President to concede defeat even before the full result is announced. This is the kind of thing we see in advanced countries.
“Slowly and steadily, we can see consistent improvement in our democratic process and we pray that it just gets better. The beauty of it all like the President-elect said that even the honor of presiding one day is enough to earn you a place in Nigerian history and I think Jonathan has earned that place.
“This is the first time in Nigeria history that the government of the day had been replaced through the ballot box and I think this is a major victory for all Nigerians particularly those who have invested so much in this process.”
Extolling General Muhammadu Buhari for being a dogged fighter who doesn’t give up on his dream, Oshiomhole said his resilience and refusal to give up despite losing in three previous contests has further portrayed General Buhari as a man who believes in the country.
The victory concert was attended by top APC chieftains, including the state Deputy Governor, Dr Pius Odubu, the State APC Chairman, Mr Anselm Ojezua, Secretary, Chief Osaro Idah, Woman Leader, Dr Victoria Amadasun, members of the State Executive Council, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Uyi Igbe, other members of the State House of Assembly, among others.
