Uhuru Kenyatta, former Kenyan President and guest speaker at Saturday’s inauguration address, advised Bola Tinubu, the next Nigerian President, to swiftly learn to lead people who love and hate him with more profound passion and dedication because he is now the father of everyone.
The Kenyan leader also advised the next administration to show kindness in victory and use his government to promote national unity and inclusion.
“Remember that your victory is not just about numbers, as western democracies will have us believe, the real victory will be how you reach out to all the voices in Nigeria, and how every Nigerian, from Katsina in the north, to Port Harcourt in the south, to the Yorubas in the west and Anambra in the east, will all feel included in your victory and see your government as their government, your agenda as their agenda, one Nigeria, one government for all,” Keny said
The guest speaker reminded the new Tinubu administration that the contest is done and the process of building a wealthy and unified Nigeria begins.
He advised the President to move beyond election tactics and become Nigeria’s visionary.
This will require politicians to change their election thinking completely.
As President, you must immediately learn to lead people who love and loathe you with more profound passion and commitment since you are now the father of all.
Infrastructure to GDP rises from 20% to 40%—Buhari.
From 2013 to 2022, Kenya’s fourth president encouraged Tinubu to represent national unity.
“As you take leadership of the nation armed forces, you become the personification of the sum total of the different groups, you become the emblem of national unity of Nigeria,” he stated.
Kenyatta advised the next government to surround itself with voices that will counterbalance hardliners who feel entitled to the presidency.
“You will lose nothing and gain everything, by reaching out across the political, ethnic, and religious lines, to those who may feel offended by your triumph in one way or another, please allow them to experience and be part of your vision for better Nigeria,” he said.
“I hope and pray that the lessons from across the continent will give you the resolve to pursue the tough path in eradicating those three components of negative ethnicity, religious discrimination, and corruption.
“As a fellow African, I look forward to a Nigeria that emerges from this change, ready to fight for its proper position on the global stage, with both hands.”
At the event, outgoing president Muhammadu Buhari said real democracy thrives when citizens’ voices are heard, cherished, and represented regardless of background or social class.
The lecture’s central idea is that national growth depends on unity, inclusivity, and shared responsibility.
We have understood that nation-building is an inclusive job that transcends political connections and personal interest’, Buhari stated.
He urged the incoming administration to leave no Nigerian behind.
President Buhari said that the lecture’s lessons went beyond academic exercise and promised that as he prepares to hand over to Tinubu, there is hope based on the future President’s ability to deliver on Citizens’ assignments.
“We must heed the teachings of this discourse and translate them into concrete actions, continue to prioritise the welfare of our citizenry providing them with decent educations and sustainable livelihoods,” Buhari stated.
We must fight corruption, ensure accountability, and be united.
“To overcome our differences, we must recognise and respect our diversity.”
