An elder statesman and second republic politician, Tanko Yakasai, has described the emergence of Bola Tinubu as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a complete break away from military influence in Nigeria’s polity.
Yakasai said this in a congratulatory message to Tinubu, a copy of which was made available to The Star on Thursday.
According to him, this is the first time Nigeria’s major political parties are fielding civilians as their presidential flag bearers since 1999.
“Paramount and if elected as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju’s election victory will signify the complete and total break away from military influence in our polity which will bring about the return of the country to a full pledge democratic tradition and practice for the first time since the return of civilian rule in 1999.
“It will also constitute a stamp of validation of the 1914 amalgamation of the people of Northern and Southern protectorates by the entire people of Nigeria on their own free will.
“It is gratifying to note that this is the first time the major Political Parties are fielding non-military actors as their Presidential flag bearers,” he added.
While congratulating the APC’s presidential candidate, the Yakasai noted that Tinubu’s success is a victory for Nigeria’s democracy and political development.
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He said: “The election of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the APC Presidential Bearer is indeed an important political development in our country.
“This transition will lead us to a full pledge democracy, a milestone of an acclaimed figure and political Juggernaut of the APC National Leader to a National Leader of Nigeria.”
The elder statesman called on all the candidates to engage in politics with decorum and without bitterness.
“Therefore it is important to appeal to all candidates vying for various political positions in the country to commit themselves to the principles of playing politics according to the rule of the game, eschew politics of bitterness, violence and do away with culture of thuggery in our political activism and return the country to the path of civility in the conduct of partisan politics.
“May their emergence be the harbinger of the return to politics of decorum, without bitterness as well as the beginning of the arduous task of finding better strategy that will enhance the needed national unity, peaceful coexistence and cohesion in our country a prerequisite for genuine nation-building,” Yakasai stated.
He further appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct peaceful and credible polls devoid of rigging and manipulation in the forthcoming general election.
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