Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GEJ) has been issued his Certificate of Return as President-elect by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Attahiru Jega on Tuesday in Abuja.
Attahiru Jega said that he presented the Certificate of Return to the President and Vice President based on the powers vested on him by Section 75 (1) of the Electoral Act and having won the presidential election convincingly.
While receiving the Certificate of Return, Jonathan said that his election last Saturday marks a new beginning and promised to carry every Nigerian along, irrespective of political affiliation, in the task of building a new country.
“I thank God for today, because if not for God today will not have been possible. It is God that has made it possible. If it were to be man it would not have been possible.
“I thank Nigerians for coming out massively to vote for us. We commend (Jega) and his team, and ad-hoc workers that have made Nigeria proud with this year’s election.
“The world has given us a pass mark; this is because of the determination of the INEC to do a credible election. It has put our country on the higher rung of the ladder. This is the beginning of good governance and economic development.
Jonathan expressed regret at the violence that erupted in Northern parts of Nigeria after a relatively peaceful presidential election.
“Violence during elections which was witnessed in the 50s and 60s is a relic that has no place in the country of today.”
“It is regrettable that we witnessed violence; it is regrettable and unacceptable. We assure Nigerians that we will carry everybody along we will take inventory of the properties that were destroyed. I call on political and religious leaders to condemn that act.
“There can be no development in a place where there is violence. We are committed to providing jobs for the youth as it is due to their joblessness that they are being used for these crises. We will not let Nigerians down.”