Nigeria's political leaders urged to accept the people’s will

Nigeria's political leaders urged to accept the people’s will
Hauwa Noroh Ali, Jigawa

The Governor of Jigawa State in the Northern part of Nigeria, Sule Lamido, has advised Nigeria's Political leaders to imbibe the culture of accepting the will of the people, which he said is translated into voting for candidates of their choice.

Governor Sule, who stood in line with other electorates to vote, said that leadership should be by example, stressing that no one should be above disciplinary measures.

In his words; “if the people who put a governor in power can stand in the sun for hours to vote the Governor owe it to them to show that he is also one of them and not just a Governor”

Low voters turnout

The governor said that if there had been low turn-out of voters at the polling units, it would not be unconnected with voter apathy in response to the spate of violence that broke out in some northern states of Nigeria after the Presidential election.

He blamed politicians for inciting the people, using propaganda which led people to engage in actions that led to loss of lives and property on account of the fact that the results of the elections were not going their way.

He said: “Nigeria is one country, one people and there is an alternation between north and south. Politicians should learn to differentiate between what is personal wish and what is called reality as democracy is the right of every Nigerian to choose a candidate of his own choice  and so far that has been reflected in the votes in Jigawa State.“

Election credibility  

Lamido commended the efforts of the electoral commission and noted that the election, for the first time, was being supervised by educated and highly placed government personnel, who have given the process credibility.

He stressed that the elections, as witnessed so far, had been free, fair and transparent.

The governor said that the Presidential election results reflected the will of the people, and urged political leaders to advise their wards to shun violence.

Governor Lamido is a member of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which won all the Parliamentary seats in the state and the governorship flag bearer for the state. During the Presidential Election, opposition party, Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) had majority of the Votes in the state.

Williams