Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu, the National Orientation Agency (NOA)Director-General, has called on the political class to close ranks and support President Bola Tinubu in the task of economic, social and political reconstruction of the country.
He made the call in a statement on Thursday in Abuja while congratulating President Tinubu on the Supreme Court judgment that affirmed his election in the Feb. 25, 2023 presidential election.
Issa-Onilu in the statement signed by Mr Paul Odenyi, the agency’s Assistant Director of Press, said the judgement had further enriched the body of law on election jurisprudence in the country.
He added that the Supreme Court had by the judgement, validated the strenuous work done by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) throughout the period of the election.
According to him, the Nigerian judiciary has also proved by the judgement, that it is available to dispense justice to all men at all times and season.
“We call on everyone to come to the realisation of who we are, even when we disagree, we should be mindful of the boundaries which we ought not to cross and the bond that hold us together.
“We acknowledge that the period of campaign was characterised by muddy, hot altercation and brickbats that do not reflect our national values.
“Above all, we are naturally a good people and our brothers’ keepers, as such, contestations should never lead to losing our values of courtesies, self-respect and respect for others.
“It is time to go back to those values that distinguished us as a people of culture, faith and patriotism,” the NOA DG said.
He called on those on the side of victory to be magnanimous towards their opponents while other contestants should not abandon their right to engage the winners in constructive criticism.
This, he said, was essential for the sustenance of democracy.
Issa-Onilu urged government to fully focus on the task of governance, saying the agency was committed to engaging Nigerians on the renewal of those values that marked the nation as clear leader in Africa.
