Tinubu and Kwankwaso hold peace meeting in Paris where they agree to work together

PRESIDENT-elect Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and former New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) presidential rival Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso have held a closed door meeting in the French capital Paris where they have agreed to work towards peace.

On Saturday February 25, Nigerians went to the polls to elect a new president and the Independent National Election Commission (Inec) subsequently declared Asiwaju Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the winner. Among the main gladiators in the contest were Asiwaju Tinubu of APC, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Governor Obi of the Labour Party and former Kano State governor Senator Kwankwaso of the NNPP.

Inec chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who served as the returning officer for the presidential election, declared Asiwaju Tinubu the victor of the contest with 8,794,726 votes, defeating Alhaji Abubakar of the PDP, who came second with 6,984,520 votes and Governor Obi who came third with 6,101,533 votes. However, the PDP and Labour Party have refused to accept the results, although Senator Kwankwaso who came a distant fourth, refused to join them in taking legal action.

Asiwaju Tinubu, who is currently staying at one of his foreign homes in Paris, received Senator Kwankwaso yesterday for what political commentators have described as peace talks. Apparently, Asiwaju Tinubu told Senator Kwankwaso to reach out to his political associates on the need to work together.

Both men then agreed to hold subsequent meetings, although it is not yet clear of these will take place in Paris or back in Nigeria. It is also not yet clear of as part of the deal, Asiwaju Tinubu offered the NNPP any cabinet positions or political appointments.