President Muhammadu Buhari and President-elect Bola Tinubu on Sunday eulogised the maturing and uninterrupted democratic journey of Nigeria since 1999.

Messrs Buhari and Tinubu spoke while addressing African heads of state, members of the diplomatic corps and other participants in a gala night to mark the 2023 presidential inauguration at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The event also marked Nigeria`s seventh consecutive democratic transition.

Mr Tinubu said the lessons many African nations would take away from Nigeria`s enduring democracy were resilience and courage.

“What lessons has Nigeria’s democracy taught the rest of Africa, if not part of the world, is resilience, determination, courage and love in diversity despite our tongues and tribes being different,” explained Mr Tinubu. 

Mr Tinubu added, “Here is a country that has stumbled many times, but we never fall apart, and we will never break apart. We are just a unique country. We must fight corruption, poverty, inconsistencies in policy and many other problems confronting us.”

He assured Nigerians of his determination to deliver on his campaign promises.

Mr Buhari explained that the 2023 general elections testified to Nigerians’ resolve towards deepening their democratic experience.

“Something spectacular happened in our political development where 10 serving governors failed to make it to the Senate. This is unprecedented in Nigerian political history for a serving governor to fail to win an election in his base,” stated Mr Buhari. 

The president further stated, “But, we should look at it positively. It means Nigerians are very much aware of their powers when there is an authority that can make sure that their votes count. How can a serving governor who served for eight years in his state lose in his constituency to go to the Senate?”

Mr Buhari stressed that this “is unprecedented, but it happened in Nigeria” and congratulated “Nigerians who realise their power that their votes count.”

(NAN)