Jonathan won April election - Tinubu

Agency Reporter

A former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on Monday said President Goodluck Jonathan won the April presidential election.


BOLA AHMED TINUBU

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Tinubu, who is also the National Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria,however, claimed that some of the results attributed to Jonathan in some parts of the country were exaggerated.

"I believe Jonathan won the election but that the returns attributed to him in some parts of the country obviously appeared exaggerated," he said in a paper he presented at the Chatham House, London.

In the paper entitled, 'Democracy and the Rebirth of Opposition in Nigeria,' the former governor added that "the inflated tally (in favour of the President) detracted from what would have been a well-deserved victory.''

He noted that due to the unique circumstances of Jonathan's rise to power, the public saw him as a distinctive figure.

The ACN leader warned that celebrating the election as free and fair might lead to the Independent National Electoral Commission beating its chest, thereby, short-circuiting the process of fundamental electoral reform.

Tinubu, who also took a swipe at the opposition parties, said they did not run coordinated campaigns with a unifying message.

He said the campaigns were not strong enough to effectively match the machinery of the Peoples Democratic Party which emerged victorious at the elections.

The former governor said, "The opposition believed that public disenchantment with the ruling party, the PDP, was enough to get rid of them at the polls.

"In retrospect, we made an important strategic mistake that continued to play out and weaken us throughout the campaigns.''

Tinubu also admitted that major opposition parties began their serious work too late.

"In the end, the opposition parties danced with each other but did not embrace; our constant dancing however, confused the public and partially doused some of the public's enthusiasm,'' he stressed.

He attributed the security challenges in the country, especially the menace of Boko Haram, to high level of poverty, economic and social injustice, and ignorance.

Tinubu noted that the situation was made worse by the political machinations of a group of people dissatisfied with the outcome of the general elections.

He, however, expressed his "full sympathy and support''for the President in finding solution to the disturbing phenomenon.

Tinubu said Jonathan must succeed in his resolve to tackle the menace, adding that the lingering security challenge could damage the country and the West African region.

He won because it was a one man horse race.

Andre Uweh:

He won because it was a one man horse race.

Tinubu should also be telling us how/why his candidate did not win in the SW.

adejoro75:

Tinubu should also be telling us how/why his candidate did not win in the SW.

But his candidate won in Osun state.

As an opposition party, Tinubu should be mapping out and identifying what his party would do to tackle Nigeria's problems. He is right though that if the other parties were able to put their differences together an put up a formidable front against PDP, GEJ would not be in power,

Andre Uweh:

But his candidate won in Osun state.

A 1/6 win is not something god Tinubu ordinarily will take. Can he please tell us the undercurrents that went on?