Posted by By Kazeem Ugbodaga on
Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos state, Afenifere, Action Congress (AC) and others, have hailed the victory of Senator Barack Obama at the United States presidential polls.
Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos state, Afenifere, Action Congress (AC) and others, have hailed the victory of Senator Barack Obama at the United States presidential polls.
Fashola said Obama's victory would usher in the much-needed change just as he likened him to a man who has an appointment with destiny. 'We must continue to dream big, because once we can conceive it, I think our minds will achieve it,' he said.
The governor added that Obama's victory reinforced the capacity of the human mind and will to achieve when there is focus and determination.
'This is not the choice of Obama but that of Americans, blacks, whites, Hispanics, Jews and all of that,' he said. Fashola stated that the lesson that could be taken from the election was that in this part of the world, 'we are only limited by our own dreams and our capacity to envision and to dare.
'The Nigerian nation will take steps to put itself in a position where it can deal with the most powerful nation on earth as a partner and not as a dependent. 'We have to position ourselves to develop an educated workforce, an enlightened, healthy people, who would respect the rule of law and understand that the democratic process is only a part of the real process from where the business of governance starts,' he added.
The Afenifere described Obama's victory as a worldwide victory for all those who had struggled against inequalities and injustices over the years.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, the socio-cultural group said: 'We commend white Americans in particular, for making the Obama dream a reality as the black people with their 13 per cent population strength could not have made this happen on their own. 'For us in Nigeria, the moment has come for all the Obamas, wherever they are scattered, to begin to congregate on a platform of change that can retrieve the soul of the country from the misrule of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
'It is the absence of such an Obamian challenge that makes Vincent Ugbulafor to have no other song to sing other than that PDP will rule Nigeria for 60 years,' it stated. The Campaign for Democracy (CD) hailed Obama's victory, but lamented the state of Nigerian politics which had led to rigging several times.
National president, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, said the Republican party, despite its power of incumbency, could do nothing to stop the march of change in America.
'With all the financial crisis in the build up to the economy, the PDP in Nigeria would simply have asked a Maurice Iwu to prepare results before the casting of ballots so that the verdict wouldn't reflect the true mood of the people.
'The Obama victory is a clarion call to all men and women of conscience to stand up and be counted, to herald our own moment of change, lest we continue to celebrate American democracy the way we are crazy about English football today, without a serious team at home,' said Okei-Odumakin.
According to Mr. Joe Igbokwe, Publicity Secretary, Action Congress (AC), Lagos chapter, Obama had made history and left a monumental lesson for Nigeria and Africa to learn from.
On its part, the Pro-National Conference Organisation (PRONACO) hailed the victory and charged Obama to deliver on his campaign promises to prove to the world that blacks were resourceful people. According to PRONACO's spokesperson, Wale Okunniyi, 'Barack Obama's election is a victory for the entire black race and a sign of greater things to come from the continent of Africa.
'It is indeed a big lesson to world leaders that blacks can no longer be pushed aside in international affairs as they are now poised to take their rightful place in history.