Tinubu, Shettima receive certificate of return

President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his vice, Kassim Shettima have received their certificate of return.

The president-elect and his vice accompanied by their wives received the certificate at a ceremony held at the International Conference Centre in Abuja on Wednesday.

Speaking after he was handed the certificate by the INEC chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Tinubu called for unity.

While describing himself as a “servant of the people, the President-elect said he has been elected to carry out a “sacred duty” which he will never neglect.

“Our destiny as a people and a nation depend on our ability to shade the artificial restrictions of bias and prejudice so that we live fully on to our democratic creed that no one is superior or entitled to greater rights and opportunities than any other Nigerian,” he said.

“By taking this certificate, I assume a sacred duty I shall never ignore. To you the people, especially the youths, I will work day and night, I will work to the utmost best of my ability to make Nigeria better.

“For this to be a victory at home, it cannot simply be a victory for one man or one party. It must become a victory for Nigerians who are committed to a greater society.”

Tinubu asked those who contested against him to shun division and be united in the interest of the country.

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“I know many did not vote for me, and you are disappointed that your candidate is not where I stand now. I understand your hurt, anger, and disappointment. I sense the embrace and comfort of one family member to another,” he said.

“To my supporters, I ask you to continue to have faith in the mission that we have articulated. To those who didn’t support me, I ask that you not allow the disappointment of this moment to keep you from realising the historic national progress we can make by working together.

“We must join hands in this common endeavour to pull the nation through. I am asking you to work with me.

“My heart, my doors are open to you. I ask you to come in so that we may begin the task of rebuilding our national home together day by day.