President Barack Obama of the United States of America and the former secretary general of the United Nations, Kofi Annan have both congratulated Muhammudu Buhari, on his inauguration as Nigeria’s President
While Obama says he will continue to strengthen the economic and diplomatic ties between his country and Nigeria, Annan says he hopes “that Nigeria’s recent elections were not a lucky exception but instead signal a new democratic departure from which other countries in Africa and beyond can draw inspiration.”
Obama in a press statement obtained by a correspondent of Leadership newspaper in New York, promised that his administration would maintain the strong ties with the government of Nigeria, which began in 2010, stressing that he should not relent in his effort to ensure that Nigeria remains united.
Obama, also praised former president, Goodluck Jonathan, for putting the interest of Nigeria at heart by conceding defeat at the March 28th presidential elections.
Meanwhile, Annan in a statement, said he prayed the newly-inaugurated administration, will rule the country using democratic tenets. He also hoped that the peaceful will be the first of its kind in Nigeria and Africa as a whole
He said: “For the first time in Nigeria’s history, an elected president is today handing power to another elected president following an election that was, by and large, free, fair and comparatively peaceful. President Goodluck Jonathan, in particular, deserves much credit for conceding defeat promptly and elegantly.
“The outgoing president has paved the way for peaceful transition. It now befalls president-elect, Buhari to govern in a democratic spirit, strengthening public institutions and ensuring that forthcoming elections at local or parliamentary level do not revert to the old ways.
“Let us hope that Nigeria’s recent elections were not a lucky exception but instead signal a new democratic departure from which other countries in Africa and beyond can draw inspiration as they too face the complicated and sometimes perilous challenge of managing political transition.
Meanwhile, spokesperson for the Peoples Democratic party presidential campaign organisation, Femi Fani-Kayode, and Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose, have also reacted to the inaugural speech by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Both men like Obama and Annan, expressed optimism that the administration of Buhari will give Nigerians a new democratic lease of life.
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