Former Lagos State governor and the National Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Bola Tinubu,, said on Monday that President Goodluck Jonathan won the 2011 Presidential election, fairly and squarely.

Mr Tinubu gave the endorsement at the Chatham House, London.

He was presenting a paper, entitled: "Democracy and the Rebirth of Opposition in Nigeria."

"I believe Jonathan won the election but that the returns attributed to him in some parts of the country obviously appeared exaggerated," the Europe Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted Mr Tinubu as saying.

Mr Tinubu noted that due to the unique circumstances of Mr Jonathan's rise to power, the public saw him as a distinctive figure.

He, however, added that "the inflated tally detracted from what would have been a well deserved victory." The opposition party chieftain expressed concerns that celebrating the election as free and fair might lead to INEC beating its chest, thereby, short circuiting the process of fundamental electoral reform.

Mr Tinubu who also took a swipe at the opposition parties, said they did not run strong enough and sufficiently coordinated campaigns with a unifying message.

Weak and divided opposition

He said the campaigns were not strong enough to effectively match the machinery of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that emerged victorious at the elections.

"The opposition believed that public disenchantment with the ruling party, the PDP, was enough to get rid of them at the polls.

"In retrospect, we made an important strategic mistake that continued to play out and weaken us throughout the campaigns," he said.

Mr Tinubu also admitted that major opposition parties began their serious work too late.

"In the end, the opposition parties danced with each other but did not embrace; our constant dancing however, confused the public and partially doused some of the public's enthusiasm," he stressed.

Mr Tinubu also spoke on the security challenges in the country, especially the menace of Boko Haram, which he attributed to the high level of poverty, economic and social injustice, and ignorance.

He noted that the situation was made worse by the political machinations of a group of people disaffected by the last elections.

He, however, expressed his "full sympathy and support" to the President in finding solution to the disturbing phenomenon.

He said that President Jonathan must succeed in his resolve to tackle the menace, adding that the lingering security challenge could damage the country and the West African sub-region.

"He must do much better at communicating with the public, to build widespread support for a durable resolution to this dilemma," the party leader said.