Jonathan’s acceptance of defeat averted crisis, says Buhari

The President-elect, Muhammadu
Buhari, has commended President
Goodluck Jonathan, for conceding
defeat at the March 28 presidential
election.
The News Agency of Nigeria
reported that Buhari gave the
commendation in Abuja on
Thursday when he received
Nigerien President Issoufou
Mahamadou on Thursday. He said
Jonathan’s action turned around
Nigeria’s nervous political process.
He said, “The Nigerien president
purposely came to congratulate me
on my victory and President
Goodluck Jonathan for the maturity
and statesmanship that he
exhibited by accepting that he had
lost the election.
“His (Jonathan’s) action actually
doused tensions and averted crisis
in Nigeria.
“Not only Africa but the world has
commended the President for that
because if he had disputed the
election, there would have been
crisis in the country.
“That is what people don’t want,
not only Nigerians but other
countries. So, he came to commend
President Jonathan for his courage
and statesmanship.”
He said Mahamadou had also come
to show solidarity and
acknowledged Nigeria’s
importance on the continent.
Buhari said but for colonialism,
Niger and Nigeria and all countries
living along the border would have
been one as they shared similar
cultures, religions and mannerisms.
“As he rightly puts it, if Nigeria
sneezes, the rest of Africa catches
cold because of its importance,
population and resources.
“So, Nigeria and Niger Republic are
one entity as one singer from Niger
puts it in his lyrics. We share a
1,500-kilometre long border with
Niger which stretches from Chad to
Sokoto, and all the people living
along the borders on either sides
are same people.
“The colonialists separated these
people when they partitioned
Africa at the Berlin conference in
1885. They separated the Fulani,
Kanuri and the Hausa from their
brothers who are presently in
Niger.
“They separated the Yoruba of
Nigeria and the ones in Benin
Republic. They also separated the
Fulani and other tribes who were
living together as one along the
Cameroon border.
“So, all these countries around us
were a single entity with people of
similar culture and religion before
they became separated but time
has changed and we thank him for
reminding us of our history of
brotherhood.”
Earlier, Mahamadou had said he was
in Nigeria to convey the gratitude
of Niger Republic to Nigerians for
the peaceful conduct of the
elections held in spite of
challenges.
“President Jonathan conceding
defeat and this act will have a
lasting impact and influence on
politics in Africa, West Africa and
Africa at large.
“So, I’m here both to congratulate
the president-elect and the people
of Nigeria for the smooth conduct
of the elections,” Mahamadou said.