President
Goodluck Jonathan has appreciated the economic community of West African states
(ECOWAS) for the organ's support to his administration, urging the body to
cooperate with the incoming government of Muhammadu Buhari.
Jonathan said he was delighted that
democracy had come to stay in West Africa, noting that recent elections in
Ghana and Senegal were largely peaceful without controversy, while polls in
Benin, Sierra Leone and Togo showed tremendous progress in consolidating
democracy in the sub-region.
He was speaking in Accra, capital of
Ghana, during the 47th ordinary session of the ECOWAS authority of heads of
state and government.
“The personal rapport and chemistry
that I have enjoyed with each one of you, my brother and sister presidents
greatly facilitated the decisions that we were able to take and the concrete
measures we took on behalf of our sub-region,” he said.
“As the new administration takes
over, I am confident that the bond of friendship between Nigeria and each
member state of our cherished organization and Nigeria’s role within ECOWAS
will grow even stronger.
“I urge you all to extend the same
friendship and fraternal cooperation that I have received from you to my
successor.
“The future of our organization and
West Africa is in good, safe and capable hands. I shall, even out of
office, continue to give my modest support to our noble cause of unity, peace,
stability and development of our sub-region.’’
Going down memory lane, Jonathan
recalled his tenure as the chairman of ECOWAS and his contributions towards
restoring democracy to the republic of Niger after a military coup in 2010.
“Happily, through dogged efforts on
our part, we were able to resolve it and the country returned to democratic
rule,” he said.
“Gen. Salou Djibo who oversaw the
return to constitutional rule in Niger is today a student at Ahmadu Bello
University in Zaria, Nigeria.
“We are also pleased that our
brother, President Alassane Ouattara (Ivory Coast), took his rightful place and
went on not only to provide leadership to his country, but also as chairman of
ECOWAS.
“Similarly, in both Guinea and
Guinea Bissau, we remained focused on the goal of ensuring that viable
political solutions were found for the political and security challenges that
they were experiencing.
“That peace and stability and
democratic governance have returned to these brotherly countries underscores
our commitment to finding viable solutions to the problems of our sub-region.
“As co-mediator, I visited Mali and
met with all the stakeholders in early and difficult times of the crisis in the
effort to return to democratic rule, maintain peace and articulate viable
political process.
“Nigeria participated in all the
negotiations and meetings coordinated by ECOWAS at various venues that eventually
produced a political timetable for the holding of democratic elections in
Mali.”
At the session, Macky Sall, president of
Senegal, was elected as new chairman of ECOWAS, taking over from President John
Mahama of Ghana.
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