Nigeria’s Election Is A Legacy For Africa – Cote D’Ivoire’s President

The President of Cote D’voire, Allassane Quattara, has described the peaceful manner in which Nigeria’s general elections were conducted and the way President Goodluck Jonathan conceded defeat as a legacy for Africa.

According to Quattara, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) owed Jonathan a lot for taking step to forestall a civil war in the country.

Quattara spoke with State House correspondents shortly after holding talks with Jonathan on April 20,2015, in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the Punch reports.

He said that he appreciated Jonathan’s gesture because of the nasty experience he had after defeating his predecessor, Lawrent Gbagbo, in a general election about five years ago.

“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.

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“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,” the president stressed.

Quattara confessed that he was not surprised with Jonathan’s decision; therefore, he decided to visit him and congratulate him, the president-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, and all Nigerians.

The President of Cote D’voire recalled that he was ECOWAS chairman for two years after Jonathan. He stressed that the two of them had to deal with very difficult issues like the wars in Mali, insurgency in Northern Nigeria, the problem in Guinea Bissau and Togo.

READ ALSO: Jonathan Is The Architect Of Post-Election Peace In Nigeria

Quattara also thanked Jonathan for the leadership role he provided for the ECOWAS.

“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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