Mixed reactions trail Tinubu’s message of national healing

INDEPENDENT

LAGOS – Following controversies that trailed the February 25 presidential election, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate and the announced winner, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has called for national healing.

This is as two other can­didates of the election, Peter Obi of Labour Party (LP) and Atiku Abubakar of the Peo­ples Democratic Party (PDP), have approached the tribunal, each claiming victory at the election.

However, a cross section of Nigerians are divided on how effective and impactful Tinu­bu’s call could be as his victory as announced by the Indepen­dent National Electoral Com­mission (INEC) Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, is still been questioned by the other candi­dates, while the action of the electoral umpire has polarised the country.

Barrister Alaowei Ebikon­bowei Cleric, a human right ac­tivist and lawyer, who spoke on the issue, stated that he will not like toI don’t want to pre-empt Tinubu’s performance.

Barrister Cleric, Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT), Cen­tre for Human Rights and An­ti-Corruption Crusade (CHU­RAC), however maintained that Tinubu may mean well for the nation by his call.

He stated: “Let me just be­lieve that he means well for the country. So, his calling for na­tional healing to me, is within his knowledge.

“He may have good agenda for the country that will trans­late to national healing. Let us just give him the benefit of the doubt. I will refrain from criti­cising his government once he assumes power, not until I see the record of his performance or otherwise.”

Also in his contribution to Tinubu’s call for national healing, Julius Adegunna, a publisher and journalist, stat­ed that he believes there is the need for national healing.

He said: “The gladiators may not like to take the words of the President-elect in view of the prevailing effects of the elections.