Our Correspondents
Senate President Bukola Saraki and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu and the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, wednesday showered encomiums on United States President-elect, Donald Trump, on his victory in Tuesday’s presidential election.
In separate statements, Saraki and Ekweremadu commended Trump for his resilience in the face of scathing criticisms intended to stall his chances, saying he ran a unique and campaigns laden with courage.
Saraki also commended Trump for duly acknowledging the defeat conceded by his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, describing Clinton as a courageous candidate who was only not fortunate to be president, saying he looked forward to working with Trump in the days ahead.
“On this day, I wish to extend my sincerest congratulatory remarks to US president-elect, Trump, on his remarkable victory in yesterday’s national election in the United States.
“Trump persevered through a very challenging Republican primary election cycle, where he defeated 16 professional and well-organised candidates. While many career politicians tried to write off Mr. Trump’s candidacy as a long shot, he stuck to his positions and controlled the daily media messaging like no other candidate in the history of American presidential campaigns.”
In his congratulatory message, Ekweremadu, described the election as “hard fought,” adding that the two major contestants gave a good account of themselves as he commended Clinton for calling Trump to concede defeat.
He said: “Trump has rightly described the election as historic. But it is not only historic for the US, but also for the world. It is an important reminder to the entire world of the true meaning and essence of democracy as government of the people.
“I urge him to work for democracy, global peace and prosperity because the peace and prosperity of America is intrinsic in that of the entire world. In particular, I urge better bilateral deals for Nigeria by the incoming Trump presidency. I have no doubt that the people of Nigeria and indeed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are willing and ready to work with the incoming US government for the good of both nations.”
Similarly, Dogara congratulated Trump on his victory and hailed his opponent, Clinton, for conceding defeat and putting up a good fight in her bid to become the first female president of the US.
In a statement, Dogara called on the international community to accept and respect the wishes of the American people.
The Speaker expressed hope that the cordial relations between Nigeria and America would be sustained by the Trump administration.
Wike Congratulates President-elect
River State Governor, Nyesome Wike has congratulated Trump, saying his victory was a victory of the people over the forces of propaganda and lies.
He said the US people stood by their beliefs and conviction , despite the concocted opinion polls thrown at them daily by the mainstream media.
According to him, the emergence of Trump indicated that the power of the people will always triumph over the forces of propaganda and manipulation.
The governor said the people of Rivers State can easily relate with Trump’s victory because over the last two years, they have been objects of negative false propaganda , but they stood their ground to vote for Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He urged the media to redefine it’s mode of Operations to promote the reality on ground instead of attempting to promote vested interests through the publication and broadcast of false propaganda.
Fayose: Trump’s Victory is a Disgrace to Those who ‘Rigged’ Buhari to Power
Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has hailed the United States president-elect, Donald Trump for his victory in the country’s presidential poll, saying it was a disgrace to those who allegedly rigged President Muhammadu Buhari into power in 2015.
Fayose further branded the victory as “the beginning of a real change in Nigeria because those who imposed the present All Progressives
Congress (APC) government on Nigerians just lost out.”
“Now that Trump has won, it portends hope for Nigerians that the excesses of the President Buhari led federal government will stop as the road has ended for those who conspired to impose Buhari on Nigerians.”
Reacting to Trump’s victory, the Special Assistant to the Governor of Public Communications , Lere Olayinka quoted the governor as saying that he believed that
Trump would be able to tell President Buhari to respect rule of law and sit at home to solve the country’s economic problems instead of junketing around the world.
The governor said: “Trump presidency symbolises different things to different people and nations. It symbolises God at work and a clear departure from the old order.
“It is also a turning point for Nigeria and Nigerians, particularly those controlling the federal government that must have to change their ways as their allies who imposed them on us just lost out.
“Most importantly, President Barack Obama got what he did to Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. God bless president-elect Donald John Trump!”
Describing the conduct of the elections as a lesson for Nigerians, Governor Fayose said; “The US elections started and ended seamlessly.
The electoral umpire never meddled; the military, police and DSS did not provide cover for ballot snatchers. No printing of doggy result sheets. I think Prof Mahmood Yakubu and his INEC should learn from this for posterity. They should stop aiding unpopular politicians to rob the people of quality leadership.”
Speaking further, Fayose said the election of Trump signals the hope of a possible defeat of the APC government foisted on Nigeria by the USA influence.
Buhari’s Ministers Disagree on Implication of Trump’s Victory for Nigeria
Two ministers in the cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday expressed divergent views on the implications of the victory of the United States’ President-elect, Mr. Donald Trump, for Nigeria.
The two ministers who spoke with State House Correspondents are the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh and the Minister for Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali.
Ogbeh described Trump as a capitalist who exploited the American system and turned around to destroy it; while Dan-Ali said Nigeria has to accept his victory and forge ahead.
Ogbeh said he was shocked by Trump’s victory and said Nigeria might have to re-tune and re-tool her foreign policy should Nigerians come under any pressure under Trump’s leadership.
He said: “I am in a bit of shock, but we are witnessing some very dramatic changes in the world and I think some of these things began many years ago. The current economic theory ravaging the world is now reaching the poor and the ordinary people. It is causing a lot of stress. Brexit happened, America has done this now.
“Many other countries are going to have near extremism ruling the minds of people. Trump’s language before the elections definitely did not endear him to people. It scared a lot of people and yet he got this massive support which means there is something fundamentally wrong and some of us have been complaining even here for 30 years. The economic theories we are practising are hurting too many people and so there is a lot of anger and people are looking for a way to express it.
“In this country for instance, interest rate has remained averagely at 25 to 35 percent for 30 years. It is impossible for young people to dream dreams and achieve them. The rural areas are emptying, hunger is increasing. Only a small number of people have access to wealth. The rest are complaining but nobody is listening. That’s what has happened.
“Because, even though America is a powerful country, the wealth is in the hands of the people in the stock exchange and the big business people, the ordinary people have a rough time. Even the black people didn’t turn out to vote, they’ve lost hope. So, that’s the result.
“So, it means we have to reverse our economic thinking. If you can’t take a loan, you have no mortgage, you can’t feed your wife, your salary can’t pay school fees, you can’t even plan for tomorrow, what kind of life are you living in the country? That is what you are seeing now.
But for Dan-Ali, Nigeria would be better off by accepting the reality if Trump’s emergence.
He said: “Security-wise, as always, we will always collaborate with external forces where we can get peace and tranquility in our country. As I said, I advise Nigerians to accept it and then forge ahead. Look ahead and bring about a synergy so that things can move forward.
“Like I always say, insurgency is a global phenomenon whether you like it or not, he must also put his efforts because it is not Nigeria alone that is suffering. You can find insurgency today here in Nigeria, next tomorrow it could in America or Europe or anywhere in the world. So, it’s a global problem which all the nation must come together and fight it together.”
PDP Sets Agenda for US President-elect
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has counselled the President-elect, Mr. Donald Trump, to move quickly to heal the wound brought about by the divides created by the campaign and to reassure all Americans.
The party also urged Trump to formulate policies that would ensure a mutually beneficial relationship between the US and Africa in general, and Nigeria in particular.
While congratulating the Republican Party candidate on his emergence as president-elect of the US, PDP advised him to try and protect the minorities in America, adding that his administration should pursue policies and programmes that protects and promotes all their constitutional rights and freedoms.
“Trump’s historic victory at the US presidential elections. Trump’s victory came against many odds which showed the strength of democracy in the US.
In a statement issued by the PDP’s spokesman of the Prince Dayo Adeyeye, the party commended the courage exhibited by the runner-up in the election, former Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton.
“We commend Clinton on her hard-fought campaigns. She showed herself as a role model for young men, women and children all over the world.
His Emergence Similar to Buhari’s Change Mantra, Says Oyegun
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has described the victory of the Republican candidate, Donald Trump in Tuesday’s presidential election in the United States as a sign that Nigeria is not alone in her quest for a change in the old ways of doing things.
Oyegun who spoke with THISDAY yesterday on the implications of the emergence of Trump as America’s President, said that the new man in the White House came to power based his message of change which was what also brought President Muhammadu Buhari into office.
“What is important to me as a party man is that Americans went to vote and they have made their choice in an election that is fair and transparent. We all have to congratulate them.
On what the ruling party and Nigeria should learn from the experience of the US election, Oyegun said in the party has already imbibed the need for change in the manner we run the affairs of the country and that the government has started implementing those things that can get us out of the woods.
“APC has been preaching change since it came to office. It was the same message of change that Trump preached and I think the Americans have bought into it, that was why he won the election,” he said.
IPOB Commends Trump, Reminds Him of Promises
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has congratulated the President-elect of the United States of America, Mr. Donald Trump, on his victory in the US presidential election of Tuesday.
The group in a state sent to our correspondent and signed by its Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, also reminded Trump of his promises to Americans and to others around the world.
Trump had been quoted during the campaigns as pledging support for the actualisation of Biafra Republic.
Part of the statement read: “The IPOB under the command structure of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu congratulates Donald Trump and thank the good people of the United States and the Republican party who challenged the incumbent president, Barack Obama and the Democratic Party to a standstill and defeated to them in a landslide victory.
IPOB attributed Trump’s victory to God, saying that some power brokers in America and around the world would have thwarted it if it were in their power.
The group said Trump passed through so many trials and so many odds from the leadership of the party but God Almighty made it for him to become the president of United States of America USA.
Reminding him of his promises, IPOB said: “However, he should also remember his promises to the people of America and other people across the globe because USA is going to be great again by the power of God Almighty who selected him from the midst of millions in America.
Meanwhile, there was visible jubilation among residents of Anambra over the victory of Trump in the American presidential election yesterday.
Most resident of Awka who gathered to discuss the victory of Trump rejoiced, saying that his victory and ascension to the White House would help the Biafra course, and aid its actualisation.
They insisted that the Trump presidency would help the Igbos, and give America’s support to them to actualise the secession dream of Biafrans.
Trump Presidency will Check Rights Abuses, Says Constitutional Lawyer
International human rights and constitutional lawyer, Dr. Anthony Agbazuere, has congratulated the newly elected president of the United States of America, Mr. Donald Trump, saying that the billionaire businessman deserved to emerge as the 45th president of the most powerful nation on earth.
In a congratulatory message made available to THISDAY yesterday, Agbazuere also commended the people of America for electing a president has the “capacity and sagacity to call presidents of other countries to order without plying politics with it when they perpetrate impunity or abuse fundamental human rights.”
The constitutional lawyer stated that only those that enter America illegally or flout the laws of America should be afraid of the new president, who will officially take the reins of power on January 20, 2017.
The international community is already apprehensive of the policies and actions that would define the Trump presidency given his brashness and penchant not to be politically correct in his utterances.
But the Umuahia based rights activist noted that no country in the world throws its doors open for people to enter illegally in reference to the tough measures that Trump said he would adopt to tackle the problem of illegal immigrants in America.
Agbazuere said he never wavered in his support for the billionaire businessman even when the polls and the political establishment were all against him, adding that Trump has proved that he remained a dogged fighter who can positively influence the direction of international politics.
Agbazuere assured that Trump would be a “worthy president for Americans and the world” and prayed.
