Tinubu’s congratulation of Adeleke shows Nigeria’s democracy is maturing, Sanwo-Olu says

Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu says President Bola Tinubu’s response to an opposition victory in Osun shows that Nigeria’s democracy is growing.

At the seventh annual lecture of Freedom Online, Sanwo-Olu recalled the August 15 governorship election, in which APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji lost to incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke, who ran for another political party. Adeleke won by more than 60,000 votes.

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About 19-20 days ago, on the 15th of August, the people of Osun State elected a governor. The candidate of my party, the President’s party, lost.

“About 19-20 days ago, on the 15th of August, the people of Osun State elected a governor. The candidate of my party, the President’s party, lost,” Sanwo-Olu said. He added that Tinubu congratulated Adeleke the following day, urged him to unite the state, and thanked the electoral commission and security agencies for a peaceful and transparent election.

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Under this President, the ruling party can lose a state, in the South-West, in an election year, and the sky does not fall. That is what a maturing democracy looks like.

“Under this President, the ruling party can lose a state, in the South-West, in an election year, and the sky does not fall. That is what a maturing democracy looks like,” Sanwo-Olu said. He noted that Adeleke had also acknowledged Tinubu’s role in providing what he described as a level playing field.

The governor contrasted the result with an earlier period when “federal might” was openly associated with ruling-party power. He again described Tinubu as a lifelong democrat committed to leaving behind stronger democratic institutions. “This President is a lifelong democrat, and he means to leave behind a stronger democracy than he inherited, not only for Nigerians but as an example to a continent that badly needs one,” he said.

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This President is a lifelong democrat, and he means to leave behind a stronger democracy than he inherited, not only for Nigerians but as an example to a continent that badly needs one.