United States President Barack Obama has personally called and congratulated President Goodluck Jonathan on his victory in the April 16 presidential election.
And as political groups and regional blocs lobby for key positions after the general election, the South-east Caucus in the House of Representatives Wednesday intensified its bid to clinch a prominent place in the next democratic dispensation, particularly at the National Assembly.
A statement released Wednesday night by the White House stated that Obama called Jonathan in the morning to congratulate him on his electoral victory and to commend the people of Nigeria "for their resolve and patience during last month’s historic presidential, legislative and gubernatorial elections".
Obama pointed out that “the success of the elections was a testament to Nigerian voters who waited in long lines, stayed to watch their votes counted and were determined that these elections mark a new chapter in Nigerian history.”
He also acknowledged that “credit also belongs to the Independent National Electoral Commission, the National Youth Service Corps, and Nigeria’s vibrant civil society, all of which must play a role in ensuring that the final results reflect the will of the Nigerian people and that Nigerian authorities investigate and address any allegations of fraud or irregularities.”
He noted that while the majority of Nigerians cast their ballots free from intimidation and coercion, “the post-election violence that followed the presidential election on April 16 was deplorable. Violence has no place in a democratic society, and it is the responsibility of all Nigerians to reject it.”
The US president pointed out that even with the success recorded in the conduct of free and fair polls, “Democracy, however, neither begins nor ends with elections.”
To move forward, Obama stressed that “now is the time for Nigeria’s leaders and its people to come together and build the future that they deserve—a multi-party democracy that addresses the aspirations of all Nigerians, especially its youth, who did so much to make the recent elections a success and who will define the nation’s future.”
In a veiled reference to the ethnic and religious undertones that underlined the electioneering campaigns and post election violence, Obama reminded Jonathan that “As Africa’s most populous country, Nigeria can show what is possible when people of different parties, ethnicities and faith backgrounds come together to seek peace, provide for their families, and give their children a better future.”
To drive the point further home on the import of the just concluded polls, Obama emphasized that “Today, Nigerians have an historic opportunity to move forward together and make their nation into a model for Africa. As I told President Jonathan, I look forward to strengthening our partnership with Nigeria so that this and future generations of Nigerians can live in peace, democracy and prosperity.”
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