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President Jonathan & President
Alassane Ouattara of Cote D'Ivoire addressing State House correspondents, April
20. (Image source: Reuben Abati @abati1990)
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President
Allasane Quattara of Côte d’Ivoire yesterday applauded President Goodluck
Jonathan for conceding defeat in the March 28 presidential election. According
to him, unlike former President Laurent Gbagbo who maintained a sit-tight attitude
to power, the step taken by Jonathan had saved the most populous black nation
from a violent crisis that would have threatened the unity of the country.
Addressing
journalists after meeting with Jonathan behind closed doors at the Presidential
Villa, the Ivorien leader recounted the civil war in his country which broke
out following the refusal of that country’s former President, Laurent Gbagbo,
to concede defeat.
Leadership report continues:
Quattara
noted that by this act of statesmanship, President Jonathan had set an example
for the rest of West Africa to follow.
He
also said he was in Abuja to congratulate President Jonathan, President-elect
Muhammadu Buhari (retd) and the people of Nigeria on the successful general
elections as well as to appreciate the leadership Jonathan had provided for the
sub region over the period.
Turning
to President Jonathan who was present at the press briefing, Quattara said,
“And so, I wanted to show you our appreciation over the leadership we have
received from you during these years. You know that about five years ago, Côte
d’Ivoire had elections and I won the election and the former president decided
not to leave office.
“This
brought the civil war. Over 3,000 people were killed and we were put at the
hotel for protection by the United Nations for four and a half months. We were
there without food because the hotel was guarded by the president.
“It
was only after four and a half months of imprisonment in that hotel that,
finally, we were able to leave the hotel after the former president quit and
finally left office for me. I am saying this to say that what happened in
Nigeria is a lesson to all of us, and please accept my admiration.
“I
think that avoiding violence, avoiding civil war when we have elections in
Africa, should be our utmost objective. People are more important than power,
and Mr President, my good friend, I am not surprised about what you did and I
want to congratulate you, congratulate the Nigerian people and congratulate the
president-elect on this election in Nigeria.”
Noting
that the Nigerian example is a legacy for African countries, the Ivorian leader
recalled how Jonathan had been helpful to them at the ECOWAS.
He
said, “I would like to also say that for two years, I was chairman of ECOWAS
after you and we had to deal with very difficult issues like the wars in Mali,
the terrorist infestation in Northern Nigeria, the problem in Guinea Bissau,
the problems in Togo.
“You
were always present for us; you are a West African before being a Nigerian and
we thank you for what you did for West Africa. And we also were together to set
up the partnership agreement with the European Union and only West Africa has
been able to do this.
“My
brother, you have shown support to me during the difficult years I went
through. You have shown friendship to me all these years and so I want to thank
you,” Quattara told Jonathan.
We’ll
cooperate with Buhari
The
visiting Ivorian leader Alhassan Quattara has assured the incoming
administration of President-elect Muhammadu Buhari that his country would
collaborate with his government.
He
also restated his commendation to Nigeria on the peaceful conduct of the 2015
general elections.
President
Ouattara made these comments yesterday at the presidential wing of the Nnamdi
Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, during a closed-door meeting with Buhari
The
Ivorian leader said he was in Nigeria to congratulate President-elect Buhari on
his victory at the just concluded poll, noting that the election outcome was a
valuable lesson for the whole of Africa.
He
said, “Nigerian election is a lesson to African countries; they should usher in
democracy through the rule of law and respect the people’s mandate,” adding
that his country would cooperate with the incoming government.
In
his response, Buhari thanked the Ivorian leader for his visit just as he
praised President Jonathan for his statesmanship by conceding defeat.
President
Quattara had since left for his country.
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