Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, founding member of the Arewa Consultative Forum, has advised the president-elect, Bola Tinubu, against running a government of national unity.
The elder statesman gave the advice during an interview at his residence in Abuja on Wednesday.
Hours after the former Lagos State governor was announced as winner of the presidential election, political analysts have suggested that he adopt a unity government to douse the post-election tension and assuage frayed nerves.
But Yakasai kicked against the recommendation, saying it is not good for the development of democracy in any given society.
He said, “No, I won’t advise Tinubu to run any government of nationa unity. I want democracy to develop. Democracy is a business of competition. Repeal competition from democracy, you have killed democracy. Let everybody come with his own programme.
“After all, the electorate voted for him. Let him put his programme into action. And where he concludes his own part, let the man coming after him build from where the previous man stopped. This is how you develop a country. And, in fact, this is how this house we are staying was built. They did the foundation, after then structure, vanishing of the house, painting and the rest of them. That is how you practise democracy. This is how it should also be done in nation building. It is what people all over the world are doing and this is what we should be doing.”