Ouattara Hails Jonathan's Handling of Presidential Election

President Alhassan Ouattara of Côte d’ Ivoirehas commended President Goodluck Jonathan over the way and manner he handled the aftermath of the March 28 election.

In an interaction with State House Correspondents, after aclosed-door meeting with the President Jonathan in the State House, Ouattara said the way Jonathan quickly accepted defeat, even before the final results were called, saved the country from strife.

The Ivorian leader recalled the civil war his country had to fight due to the refusal of former president,Mr. Laurent Gbagbo, to accept defeat, saying that Jonathan had, therefore, set an example for the rest of Africa to follow.

He said he was in Abuja to congratulate President Jonathan, the President-Elect, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) and the people of Nigeria on the successful general election, as well as to appreciate the leadership Jonathan had provided for the sub-region.

Turning toJonathan, who was present at the press briefing, he said: “And so, I wanted to tell 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. 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, because the hotel was guarded by the president.

“It was only after four and a half months of imprisonment in that hotel that we were finally able to leave the hotel after the former president left office for me.

“I’m 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’m not surprised about what you did and I want to congratulate you, congratulate the Nigerian people, and congratulate the president-elect.

“It is a legacy for the African countries and I think we owe you a lot in the Economic Community of West African States.

“I will also like to say that for two years, I was the chairman of ECOWAS after you and we had to deal with very difficult issues like the wars in Mali, terrorism in northern Nigeria, the problem 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.

“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 for me during the difficult years I went through.You have shown friendship to me all these years and so I say thank you.”