ABUJA, Nigeria — Newly inaugurated President Bola Tinubu has pledged to treat his electoral opponents with respect, despite their ongoing legal challenge to the results of the February 25 presidential election.
Tinubu defeated Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) in the election and was officially sworn in as Nigeria’s 16th president on Monday, May 29, 2023, at the Eagle Square in Abuja.
In his inaugural address, President Tinubu emphasized the equality of all citizens, regardless of their political affiliations. “My victory does not render me more Nigerian than the rest of you. It also does not render my opponents less Nigerian than me,” Tinubu said.
“I will treat my opponents, Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar, as important compatriots,” the president added, making a clear commitment to political civility amid contentious electoral disputes.
Both Abubakar and Obi are currently contesting the results of the presidential election in court. Despite the ongoing legal battle, Tinubu’s remarks represent a significant step toward fostering a culture of respect and fair play in Nigeria’s political arena.
It remains to be seen how this public commitment will affect the political dynamics and legal proceedings in the coming weeks, but observers are hopeful that this respect will extend into the practice of the new administration.
