ABUJA (Sundiata Post) – The President of Benin Republic, Boni Yayi, has described President Goodluck Jonathan’s conceding defeat in the March 28 presidential election as rare in Africa, saying Jonathan has always set exemplary leadership in Africa.
Yayi, who was on a visit to Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja told State House correspondents after their closed door meeting that, aside playing leadership role in Africa, Jonathan had mediated in achieving peace in many countries such as Mali, Guinea Bissau, among others.
Yayi, who described Nigeria’s 2015 general elections as successful and hitch free, said that singular act of conceding and calling his main challenger, President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, has stabilised the sub-region, saying Benin Republic people were particularly happy with the outcome.
According to President Yayi, “I came to congratulate my brother, President Ebele Jonathan. He is a very great statesman, he organised the election peacefully in the largest country in Africa.
“To us the election was very transparent and peaceful and coming back, he took a wonderful decision as a great statesman by calling his challenger to congratulate him even before the final result was released.
“Usually, in Africa, it is rare. He gave us very good example of democracy, not only in our sub-region, not only in Africa but also in the whole world.
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“He is really a great statesman. He successfully managed and led Nigeria to fight Boko Haram. It was not easy.
“Nigeria is a strong country, being able to set the pace in West Africa. Nigeria is great country and the President is a great President. Nigeria has been the first economic power in Africa. It is not easy.
“I will like to thank him because I’m the President of Benin and we depend on Nigeria. What he did here is of immense benefit to us.”
The Benin Republic President further stressed that Nigeria is of immense benefit to all countries in Africa, adding that Nigeria has been playing leadership role in ECOWAS and African Union.
He prayed that God would continue to be with President Jonathan and family in his future endeavours, adding that the sub-region would still count on him as the need arises.
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