President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo got their certificates of return on Wednesday amid pomp.
The President arrived the national collation centre of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Abuja, at about 2.10p.m. in company of his wife, Aisha, the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Oosinbajo, and his wife, Dolapo.
They arrived to the warm and cheerful embrace of party chiefs, cabinet members and eminent Nigerians.
In his opening remarks, INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, welcomed the President and the Vice President and their spouses to the event, which he said, was mandated by the Electoral Act to be performed within seven days of announcing a winner.
The first to be invited was the Vice President-elect, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who, accompanied by his wife, received his certificate at exactly 2.20p.m. amid a beautiful rendition of Yoruba song, Oke, oke, la nlo.
At 2.24p.m., Prof. Yakubu invited a smiling President Muhammadu Buhari to the stage to collect his certificate to the admiration of the audience who chorused Sai Baba.
After signing for and collecting his certificate at 2.25p.m.with his wife by his side, Buhari shook hands with all the INEC commissioners.
In his remarks after collecting the certificate, Buhari expressed gratitude to God “for making us to witness another milestone in our national life.”
He also waved the olive branch and paid tribute to his erstwhile opponents in the vote. Stretching a hand of fellowship, the president-elect said they ran a good race, fought a great battle but that time was now ripe for them to join hands with him to build the united Nigeria they all earnestly craved for.
Buhari also spoke on the integrity of the election. He said, judging from the conclusions of election monitors and foreign observers, he could attest that the vote was free, fair and credible.
He renewed his pledge to run an all-inclusive government, remain open, and work with patriotic Nigerians to take the nation to the next level, a level that is safe, a level where the rule of law shall take its pride of place.
He, therefore, pledged to work hard to make Nigeria secure, safe, great, and prosperous, promising to put the economy on a solid footing.
“Our hard work for a better Nigeria continues,” he said, and assured Nigerians that they will see their country moving to the next level in all ramifications.
President Buhari paid tribute to those “who lost their lives either through accidents, or mindless violence during the course of the elections”, saying “my heart goes for their families”, even as he prayed God to comfort them in this difficult hour.
He then appealed to all Nigerians, especially politicians, to embrace peace as “election is not war, and should never be seen as do or die.”
The ceremony closed at 2.32p.m.