Jonathan to PDP: Celebrate, don’t mourn

                                                           President Goodluck Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday said despite his defeat in the hands of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) of the All Progressives Congress in the last presidential election, the Peoples Democratic Party should be celebrating rather than mourning.

In his statement after the announcement of the election result, Jonathan said the PDP should be rejoicing because it had in the last 16 years steered the country away from ethnic and regional politics.

He said, “To my colleagues in the PDP, I thank you for your support. Today, the PDP should be celebrating rather than mourning. We have established a legacy of democratic freedom, transparency, economic growth and free and fair elections.

Drama as Orubebe disrupts poll result declaration

The Peoples Democratic Party’s agent, Mr. Godsday Orubebe, protesting at the INEC’s collation centre for the presidential poll’s result in Abuja... on Tuesday

The fever generated by the eagerness of Nigerians about the outcome collation of the presidential election results in Abuja inched to its peak on Tuesday, when the Peoples Democratic Party’s agent, Godsday Orubebe, caused a row at the venue.

Tension rose as those within the hall and others watching the exercise on the television sets in their homes began to entertain fear that Orubebe’s attempt to stop the proceedings from going on could truncate the electoral process.

The drama had barely ended when Orubebe’s profile, was immediately updated on Wikipedia, an online encyclopedia, as attempting to disrupt the announcement of the presidential election on Tuesday.

The exercise started on a dramatic note at about 11.30am when Orubebe signified his intention to raise an observation.

Jonathan congratulates president-elect

                                                                  Gen, Muhammadu Buhari

Maj.Gen, Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) is the President-elect. And this is official.

The Independent National Electoral Commission declared him winner of the 2015 presidential election at exactly…on Tuesday after two days of collation of the results from states in Abuja.

He polled 15,424,921 to defeat incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan, who scored 12,853,162 votes.

As of Monday when INEC began the collation and announcement of the results at the National Collation Centre for the President Election located at the International Conference Centre, in Abuja, Buhari had won 10 states with 8,520, 436 votes. Jonathan recorded victory in eight states and the Federal Capital Territory with 6,488,210 votes.

When the collation resumed and progressed on Tuesday, signs that the Katsina State-born former Head of State, who had previously taken a shot at the Presidency thrice, would win the election became clearer.

Buhari: the soldier, politician, President-elect

                                                                       Gen. Muhammadu Buhari

Muhammadu Buhari was born on December 17,1942, in Daura, Katsina State, to his father Adamu and his mother, Zulaihat. He is the twenty-third child of his father. Buhari was raised by his mother, after his father died when he was about three or four-year-old.

In 1971, Buhari married his first wife, Safinatu (née Yusuf) Buhari (First lady of Nigeria December 1983-August 1985). They had five children together, four girls and one boy. Their first daughter, Zulaihat is named after Buhari’s mother. Their other children are Fatima, Musa (deceased), Hadiza, and Safinatu.

In 1988, Buhari and his first wife Safinatu were divorced. In December 1989, Buhari married his second and current wife Aisha (née Halilu) Buhari. They also have five children together, a boy and four girls. They are Aisha, Halima, Yusuf, Zarah and Amina.

On January 14, 2006, Safinatu Buhari, the former first lady, died from complications of diabetes. She was buried at Unguwar Rimi cemetery in accordance with Islamic rites.

In fourth attempt, Buhari wins presidential election, floors Jonathan

                                                            Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (Retd)

The Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari(retd.), has won the March 28 presidential election.

Buhari, contesting the office for the fourth time, polled 15,424,921 votes  against incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan, of the Peoples democratic Party to clinch the presidential seat.

Jonathan scored 12,853,162 votes.

The President-elect, a Head of State between 1984 and August 1985, won the contest in 21 states of the federation, leaving Jonathan with victories in 15 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Buhari won the election in 16 northern states and five south western states while Jonathan won the poll in three northern states, the FCT and 12 South-South and South-East states.