Former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida has congratulated President-Elect Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his election victory.
Mr Babangida also appealed to Nigerians to “rally round” him to succeed.
In a statement by his media office, through Alhaji Zubairu Idris Abdulrauf, the former President commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for modifying an election that would “lead to a new Nigeria”.
He also applauded Nigerians for coming out en masse to exercise their franchise by “electing someone like Bola Ahmed Tinubu” as their next President.
According to him, “it is a thing of joy that this is happening in my lifetime. I can confidently say that Tinubu is a good man for the job.
“I have no doubt that Tinubu would perform as the President of Nigeria. For some of us who have been there before, I know that there is still more work to be done, and I believe that Tinubu has what it takes to take Nigeria to greater heights.”
The former President said Senator Tinubu was coming to lead the country “from the background of a performer who loves his people with all his heart” and who knows how to “put a round peg in a round hole”.
While urging Nigerians to join hands with the incoming administration in the business of “repositioning the nation”, the former Military head of state also appealed to the other contestants to see the emergence of the former Lagos State Governor as the will of God. He stressed that the business of nation building requires that “all hands must be on deck” to attain success.
“This is a bright moment for Nigeria,” he continued. “We have to take our destiny in our hands and make things work for us as a nation. We cannot continue to do things the same way, and I believe that God will make things work for this country again.”
He added that a new dawn has come for Nigeria and its people.
Reporting by Aliyu Lawal; Editing by Abdullahi Lamino and Tony Okerafor