The incoming President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been charged to build a prosperous nation for all Nigerians, irrespective of ethnic, religious and political tendencies.
Former President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta gave the admonition on Saturday in his keynote address at the Inauguration lecture organised by the Presidential Transition Council (PTC) in Abuja.
Speaking on the theme: “Deepening democracy for integration and development”, Kenyatta summed up the leadership crisis in Africa to negative ethnicism, religious intolerance and economic greed.
Kenyatta, who noted that while elections may divide the people, leadership must bring them together.
He encouraged Tinubu to surround himself with voices that challenge his own and reach out to those who may feel aggrieved to build a stronger nation together.
In closing his over 45-minute long presentation, Kenyatta said: “The contest is now over and the hard work of building a prosperous and unified Nigeria now begins.
“Upon assuming the office of President, you would be wise to transcend from the tactical politics of an election and assume your role as Nigeria’s vision bearer. This will demand a complete overhaul of the adversarial mindset that we as politicians are conditioned to embrace during the electoral process.
“As President, you must learn very quickly to lead those who do not love you and those who love you with equal passion and commitment because you are now the father of all.
“Your Excellency, when countries are in election mode, the people and its leaders are more divided than ever, and boxed into their various sectarian and partisan interests. However, when you are the head of state, and you take command of the country’s armed forces, you become the embodiment of the sum total of the many different ethnic groups, religions that make up your country, and you become the symbol of unity. Indeed, you become the face of Nigeria.
“I encourage you, to surround yourself with the voices of those who will counterbalance the hardliners that feel entitled to a piece of your office, you will lose nothing and gain everything by reaching out across the political, ethnic and religious lines.”
He added: “To those who may feel aggrieved by your victory in one way or another, please allow them to exhale and be part of your vision for a greater Nigeria.
“It is my hope and my prayer that the lessons from across the continent will give you the resolve to walk the difficult path overcoming those three enemies.
“I started by mentioning the three enemies of nationhood negative ethnicity, religious discrimination and corruption. As your fellow African, I look forward to a Nigeria that emerges from this transition, ready to flex and fight for its rightful place on the global stage with both hands at the ready”, he said.
