President Allassane Quattara of Cote D’voire on Monday said
the peaceful manner in which Nigeria’s 2015 general elections were conducted
and the way President Goodluck Jonathan conceded defeat would forever remain a
legacy for Africa.
According to the Ivoirian president, the Economic Community
of West African States (ECOWAS) owed Jonathan a lot for taking the bold step of
conceding defeat to forestall a civil war in the country.
Quattara spoke with State House correspondents shortly after
a private meeting he had with President Jonathan inside the Presidential Villa,
Abuja.
He said he appreciated Mr. Jonathan’s gesture because of the
nasty experience he had after defeating his predecessor, Lawrent Gbagbo, in a
general election about five years ago.
He said Gbagbo’s decision not to concede defeat led to a
civil war that claimed the lives of about 3,000 people.
Quattara said, “You know that about five years ago, Cote
D’voire had elections and I won the election and the former President decided
not to leave office.
“This brought the civil war. Three thousand 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. 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 show 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”.
Quattara said he was not surprised at Jonathan’s decision and
that was why he decided to visit him and congratulate him, the President-elect,
Muhammadu Buhari and all Nigerians.
The visiting Ivoirian leader recalled that he was ECOWAS
chairman for two years after Jonathan and the two of them had to deal with very
difficult issues like the wars in Mali, the terrorist situation in North-eastern
Nigeria, the unrest in Guinea Bissau and 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.
“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’ve shown friendship to me all these years
and so I wanted to tell you thank you”, he added.
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