US President-elect Joe Biden needs support to deliver when he assumes office next January, frontline Nigerian pro-democracy and human rights activist, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, has said. She made the observation Saturday in a congratulatory message to Mr. Biden and the Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.

Okei-Odumakin, who is President, Centre for Change, said in a statement containing the congratulatory message:

“After a bitterly fought Presidential election, the Democratic party candidate, Joe Biden, has been declared the winner, thus becoming the 46th President of the United States of America.

Congratulations to you and to the Vice President-elect, Kamala Harris.

“Biden was declared winner of the election after crossing the threshold of 270 electoral votes, thus defeating the incumbent President Donald Trump of the Republican party.

“It is not clear yet whether President Trump will quickly and openly concede defeat and congratulate the winner or he will press on with his legal challenge all the way to the Supreme Court.

“Whichever option the sitting president takes, these are not the best of times for the world's most powerful country.

“Events of the past few months of an ill-tempered presidential campaign coupled with ill-mannered and volatile statements that many have described as not only un-statesmanly but also unbecoming of America as one of the world’s oldest, largest, and most stable democracy have badly fractured America as a nation.

“Coming fast on the heels of the unfortunate events of the Black Lives Matter protests, Americans have not been as divided as they are today.

“Healing the wounds will not come easy.

“Pulling the country from the brinks will also be Herculean task for the incoming administration.

“While Biden is expected to provide leadership, all hands must be on the deck to make this task doable.

“Ending the uncertainties of the moment is necessary so that the great task ahead can begin in earnest.

“We trust that Biden has what it takes to provide the required leadership.

“We hope he gets the required support from his countrymen and women in particular and the world at large.

“America is too important a country to be allowed to bicker, dither, and roil as the international community cannot but catch cold if and when the USA sneezes.

“Both sides of the political divide in the US will do well to understand and appreciate this.

“The world expects effective leadership from America.

“The cost of letting the world down in that regard may be too dire to fathom.

“Fortunately, America has mature institutions that can adroitly handle the fallouts from its most acrimonious election in recent memory.

“The earlier this is done, the better for everyone!”

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