President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday in Abuja applauded former President Goodluck Jonathan for his statesmanship in conceding defeat in the March 28 presidential election.
Buhari gave the commendation in his inaugural speech during his swearing-in as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He said that Jonathan had set a precedent that would make Nigerians proud globally.
“I would like to thank President Goodluck Jonathan for his display of statesmanship in setting a precedent for us that has now made our people proud to be Nigerians wherever they are.
“I hope this act of graciously accepting defeat by the outgoing President will become the standard of political conduct in the country’’, he said.
The President noted that with the support and cooperation given to the transition process by Jonathan, the country would be united to surprise the world.
He stressed that his administration would not interfere with the functions of the legislature and judiciary.
“The Federal Executive under my watch will not seek to encroach on the duties and functions of the legislative and judicial arms of government.
“To achieve our objectives, we must consciously work the democratic system’’, he said.
Buhari maintained that under his administration, law enforcement agencies would operate within the confines of the Constitution.
He said that the legislative arm must keep to their constitutional mandate of lawmaking and oversight functions.
The President said the country now expects the judiciary to act with dispatch on all cases especially on corruption, serious financial crimes or abuse of office.
“It is only when the three arms act constitutionally that government will be enabled to serve the country optimally and avoid the confusion all too often bedeviling governance today’’, he said. (NAN)
