He warned the “president-elect” against preoccupying his mind with the thought of how to win the next election.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Abubakar III, Sa’adu Abubakar has advised the “President-elect” Bola Tinubu to channel his energy towards building and developing Nigeria to make it prosper.
The ruler of Sokoto and the head of the Nigerian National Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, who gave the advice on Saturday at an inaugural lecture in Abuja, warned the “president-elect” against preoccupying his mind with the thought of how to win the next election.
He said “As political leaders, you will need not only to think of the next election but also, and more importantly, think of the next generation.”
“I leave you with these thoughts and pray for God’s guidance, wisdom, and patience for leaders to take our country to the highest height. And we have peace and stability in our great country Nigeria,” he added, according to PUNCH.
Delivering an inaugural lecture, titled, “Deepening Democracy for Integration and Development”, the former Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta advised Tinubu to reach out to those who may feel aggrieved over his emergence, so as to build a stronger nation.
Kenyatta said, “The contest is now over, and the hard work of building a prosperous and unified Nigeria now begins. Upon assuming the office of president, you would be wise to transcend from the tactical politics of an election and assume your role as Nigeria’s vision bearer. This will demand a complete overhaul of the adversarial mindset that we as politicians are conditioned to embrace during the electoral process.
“As President, you must learn very quickly to lead those who do not love you and those who love you with equal passion and commitment because you are now the father of all.
“Your Excellency, when countries are in election mode, the people and their leaders are more divided than ever, and boxed into their various sectarian and partisan interests.
"However, when you are the head of state, and you take command of the country’s armed forces, you become the embodiment of the total of the many different ethnic groups and religions that make up your country, and you become the symbol of unity. Indeed, you become the face of Nigeria,” he remarked.
He added “I encourage you, to surround yourself with the voices of those who will counterbalance the hardliners that feel entitled to a piece of your office, you will lose nothing and gain everything by reaching out across the political, ethnic, and religious lines.
“To those who may feel aggrieved by your victory in one way or another, please allow them to exhale and be part of your vision for a greater Nigeria.
“It is my hope and my prayer that the lessons from across the continent will give you the resolve to walk the difficult path of overcoming those three enemies.
“I started by mentioning the three enemies of nationhood negative ethnicity, religious discrimination, and corruption. As your fellow African, I look forward to a Nigeria that emerges from this transition, ready to flex and fight for its rightful place on the global stage with both hands at the ready,” Kenyatta stated.