2023 Elections
Catriona Laing – British High commissioner To Nigeria Attacked Over 2023 Presidential Election Comment
Catriona Laing has come under severe criticism for her comments about the recent presidential election.
The outgoing British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, has been berated for her comments about the presidential elections with Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress emerging victorious.
Tinubu defeated 17 other candidates who took part in the election. He scored a total of 8,794,726 votes, the highest of all the candidates, thus meeting the first constitutional requirement to be declared the winner.
Also Read: Olumide Oworu: Labour Party Candidate attacked by suspected APC hoodlums in Lagos
He also scored over 25 per cent of the votes cast in 30 states, more than the 24 states constitutionally required.
INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu, who announced the final results in Abuja, said Atiku Abubakar of the PDP came second in the election.
Atiku polled a total of 6,984,520 votes in the election.
Peter Obi of the Labour Party came third in the election with a total of 6,101,533 votes while Rabiu Kwankwaso of the NNPP came fourth with 1,496,687 votes.
In the aftermath, the LP and the PDP contested the results due to the inability of INEC to transmit the results onto its portal in realtime.
Liang’s Comments
Catriona Laing, the outgoing British High Commissioner to Nigeria, said citizens of the country should ignore disappointments and be proud of the recently concluded election.
Speaking at a farewell visit to the national assembly in Abuja on Tuesday, Laing said although controversies trailed the election, the country’s politics is fascinating and holds a bright future
“Nigeria’s politics is just so fascinating. I was here for the last election and I will finish with this election. I am indeed impressed with Nigeria’s democratic journey,” Catriona Laing said.
“Yes, there have been some setbacks but overall, I see this as positive and Nigerians should be proud. Nigeria’s politics is fascinating just to watch it. What I really want to get across is that Nigeria is the biggest democracy in Africa. The world watches your progress to democracy.
“Though there were some disappointments in the last election, overall, every Nigerian should be proud because since 1999, Nigeria has been on the right track as far as participatory democracy is concerned.”
Backlash
Liang’s statement triggered backlash from Nigerians with a Twitter user, Dr Umaru AJ, penning a thread about Britain’s double standards when it comes to democracy in Nigeria.
Umaru further pointed out Britain’s shoddy handling of the COVID-19 pandemic which led to the resignation of two Prime Ministers, while noting the youth’s disdain to the electoral process.
“Dear Her Excellency Catriona Laing, how did the 2023 election prove any better than the previous election?
“Nigerian electorates would remember the Great Britain for any double standard and deviation from pushing for good governance in Nigeria.
“How could you have rated the 2023 election which has cost so much Nig lives and property as any improvement?
“Your current prime minister came into being because your two former prime ministers faulted in behavior over the Covid-19 pandemic and management of the concerns of the people of the United Kingdom.
“Nigerian youth’s consciousness is being held captive by INEC and Federal Government and it would reflect on the level of disdain that the younger African generation would hold about democratic process and constitutional democracy across the continent.
“The current level of apprehension across Africa on the political class and western leaders interference can’t be overemphasized. Therefore, rethink about your position regarding the outcome of the 2023 election in Nigeria,” the thread reads in part.
Dear Her Excellency @CatrionaLaing1
How did the 2023 election prove any better than the previous election?
Nig electorates would remember the Great Britain for any double standard and deviation from pushing for good governance in Nigeria.
How could you have rated the 2023- pic.twitter.com/Jg8d5L7uIx
— DrUmaru_AJ (@Princeujay) March 16, 2023
