Jonathan’s kinsmen congratulate Buhari on his victory at the polls

President Goodluck Jonathan’s kinsmen on Wednesday joined millions of Nigerians to congratulate Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) on his victory in Saturday’s presidential election.

The President’s kinsmen, who spoke under the auspices of the Ijaw group known as the Ijaw National Congress, also commended Jonathan for his show of sportsmanship by accepting the election verdict.

The INC described President Jonathan’s telephone call to Buhari to congratulate him even before the formal declaration of the election results by the Independent National Electoral Commission as statesmanlike and worthy of commendation.

The President of the INC worldwide, Boma Obuoforibo, said in a statement issued in Port Harcourt that Jonathan’s action portrayed him as a role model for emerging leaders in Nigeria and Africa in general.

Obuoforibo wished Buhari the courage and wisdom to lead the country into a new era of peace and evenly-distributed prosperity.

“On behalf of the Ijaw ethnic nationality, we commend President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for his courageous outing in the 2015 Presidential election. He made all Nigerians proud by his unprecedented show of sportsmanship in accepting INEC’s verdict.

“His telephone call to congratulate General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) on his victory at the polls even before the formal declaration of result by INEC is a statesmanlike act that has endeared him as a role model for emerging leaders of our country and Africa.

“We congratulate Maj.Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) on his victory at the polls and wish him divine wisdom and courage to lead our dear Nigeria into a new era of peace and broadly shared prosperity,” the INC president said.

Obuoforibo expressed gratitude to those who rallied round President Jonathan throughout his re-election campaign, even as he urged them to take solace in Jonathan’s example as a true democrat.

“We thank all those who rallied round the President all through his re-election bid. We appeal to them to take solace in the shinning example of a democrat he has given Nigeria and eschew any act that is capable of endangering the peace, unity and corporate existence of Nigeria,” he added.