John Mahama, the President of Ghana and Chairman, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), on Tuesday applauded Nigerians for the peaceful conduct of the general elections.
Mahama told State House correspondents in Abuja after a private meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan at the Aso Rock villa that ECOWAS region was happy that democracy was being consolidated in Nigeria
“I have paid this visit in my capacity as the chair of the authority of the Heads of States of ECOWAS to extend our commendation and congratulations to the people of Nigeria following the very successful elections that you had recently.
“If you recall, before the elections I had come on behalf of the authority of ECOWAS to give a solidarity message to Nigerians to step up to the plates and consolidate your democracy by having a peaceful, free and transparent election.
“And I believe that the whole world is congratulating you on the peace and stability that has continued to endure before, during and after the election.“
The ECOWAS chairman said he also conferred with Jonathan on issues concerning the sub-region.
He praised Jonathan for what he called his display of statesmanship when he conceded defeat after the presidential election and congratulated the President–elect, Muhammadu Buhari.
“I have been conferring with President Jonathan on several issues in respect of ECOWAS.
“We are due to have a summit and so we discussed issues to do with the summit and a few outstanding issues in relation to ECOWAS.
“I also took the opportunity to commend him for his statesmanship that was displayed after the election.
“We all knew that he congratulated President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari after the election and the result and he conceded.
“I think that was a very great sign of maturity and he has earned the respect of all Nigerians, the respect of the international community for what he did.
“We expect a smooth transition and considering the role that Nigeria plays in ECOWAS being the biggest economy, not only in our sub-region but on the whole continent.
Nigeria is a very important member of our sub-regional block and we expect that Nigeria will continue to play a prominent role in the ECOWAS sub-region.“
According to Mahama, there is a special relationship that exists between Nigeria and Ghana too.
“And so in my second heart as the President of Ghana, I wish to congratulate our brothers and sisters in Nigeria for what has been a very good election,“ he added.
He said that Nigeria and Ghana would maintain special relations as “we share the same values and more often than not we agree on international issues.
“And so we will continue to share that relationship and I am sure it will continue to make the bonds between our countries even stronger.