Rose Onda
SEE STATEMENT:
PRESS RELEASE
CONGRATULATORY MESSAGES TO PRESIDENT JOSEPH BIDEN & VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
20th January 2021 marks another historic day in the United States of America on the swearing in and inauguration of the 46th President of the United States of America.
The Bola Ahmed Tinubu Solidarity Vanguard rejoice with the citizens of the United States and all lovers of democracy and good governance all over the world.
The United States democracy has been the model of establishing democratic ethics, ethos and culture in all countries by surrendering the power of governance to the people and exercised through participatory representation.
The last four years have stressed and tested the will and stability of the Democracy and institutions in the US, and her leadership position as well as relationship with other nations of the world. The last administration introduced political and policy dynamics which undermined the dreams of the founding fathers of America and constituted strains and threat on the internal coercion and foreign policies with other nations.
The COVID19 pandemic threw a devastating punch on the US, shook her health systems to the marrow and unleashed death on over three hundred thousand life and still unabated. The lackadaisical,denial and poor approach of the the Trump administration exposed more than twenty million life to the virus, thus crippling the economy with resurgent negative spread all over the world due to the strategic position of the United States economy on the global economy.
The 2020 Presidential election provided the opportunity for the people to rescue the country and salvage the nation. The election was conducted free and fair with former Vice President Joe Biden of the Democratic Party clinching victory with over eighty million popular votes and 306 electoral college votes. The rejection of the result by President Donald Trump and denigration of the electoral processes and institutions endangered the American Democracy by putting it through stress test and almost in disrepute, and by extension the democratic institutions all over the world in a precarious state.
The greatness, uniqueness and resoluteness of the democratic institutions and systems to withstand and resist threats and anti democratic forces came to limelight. The people stood in defence of democracy, rule of law, fairness, equity and justice while exploring all legitimate processes to protecting the country. The People shelved all dividing lines and united in protecting the sanctity and reputation of the United States.
Democrats, Republicans and Independent abandoned partisanship for patriotism and mobilise to quench the fire of destruction that was threatening the country.
The height was the invasion of the Capitol Hill by Trump supporters who planned to disrupt the house validation of the electoral college vote which is more of a ceremonial process and has no legal binding on the legitimacy of the electoral votes as sanctioned by the electoral board. The will of the people was upheld and the electoral victory was validated by the house.
It is undeniable that this last election has thrown a spanner in the unity of the country and has opened many cleavages of acrimony, distrust and disunity.
It is now time to heal all wounds, cement all cleavages and reunite the people for a prosperous and strong United States of America. We urge the President to avoid vindictiveness and show statesmanship through extending hands of fellowship to those who supported and were against his election.
America should wake up and regain her trust among the comity of nations, reassert her political and economic dominance and provide leadership that will bring hope and prosperity to the world. The fight against the evil pandemic should be ferociously pursued as promised by President Biden while vaccine inoculation should be efficiently and effectively undertaken with wide coverage . The world is looking upon US to review those policies and actions of the previous administration that has strained bilateral relationship. The withdrawal from World Health Organisation and the Climate change should be reversed and relationship improved.
While congratulating the President and Vice President and the liberalism of the American democracy for making history in the election of the first female VP , who is also of black and Asian American origin, it is important that they consider the promotion of world peace a strategic objective.
We also commiserate with the families of those who lost their life during the imbroglio at the Capitol hill on 6th of January, 2021.
The political glitch and the resilience of the people to confront and protect their democracy should be a lesson to Nigeria and especially the African continent. The exemplary display of patriotism above partisanship should be emulated in solving our security challenges and other evils confronting us. We can only succeed if we are united n pursuing whatever goals and aspirations we set to achieve. We must always remember that the part cannot be greater than the whole, and should always put the love of our country above any other demand.
It is with great joy that we appreciate the appointment of some Nigerians into top political position in the Biden administration. Their appointment will continue to serve as an impetus to other Nigerians in the United States and all over the world to demonstrate their capacity and potential by projecting the good image of our country and be good ambassadors.
Congratulation to President Joseph Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris and we urge you to continue to pursue and strength the American dream, the ideal by which equality of opportunity is available to any American, allowing the highest aspirations and goals to be achieved. American is a nation of emigrants built on egalitarian doctrine and equal opportunity for all.
I also congratulate our Diaspora members, the DG Prof Salewa Olafioye, Diaspora women leader Mrs Bola Obanyan, Regional Director US Prof Kayode Familoni and other coordinators. Your participations physically and financially during the campaigning and electioneering in redeeming the US on the path of the dream of her founding fathers are very commendable.
I therefore charge all our members in the Diaspora and beyond to make it a call to duty and nationhood by replicating same zeal, commitment and unflinching support in ensuring that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is sworn in as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on 29th May 2023.
Lastly, I pray for President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to have the wisdom, knowledge, understanding, courage, foresight and strength of good health to reunite the people and lead the country on the continued lane of greatness.
God bless America.
Signed.
Ambassador (Dr.) Dare Owotomobi FCPA.
Global Chairman, BATSV, Abuja.
21st January, 2021.