Linus Aleke, Abuja
The authorities of the Commonwealth, has applauded the peaceful disposition political gladiators, institutions and the entire citizens for their peaceful disposition towards the forth coming general elections.
The Secretary General of Commonwealth, Mrs. Patricia Scotland, gave this commendation when she led a delegation of Commonwealth Election Observer Mission to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, in Abuja.
Mrs. Scotland, also applauded Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari for his commitment to peaceful and transparent elections.
The former president of South Africa and Head, Commonwealth Election Observer Mission to the February 25th General Elections in Nigeria, Mr. Thabo Mbeki, was conspicuously absent at the visit.
The Secretary General said: “Nigeria has had a difficult journey but what they have done is that they have inspired the rest of the world by their fortitude and determination. And I encourage them to stay on that pathway to peace. I am very conscious that there are those who may like to mislead us, try to seduce us to believe that violence is the way forward but Nigerians have always resisted violence. And I hope and pray that they will resist it again now”.
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Mrs. Scotland further noted that, “We know that more than 93 million Nigerians have registered to vote, more than 70 million of those registered are under the age of 35 and about 46 percent of those who have registered are women. So, their hopes and aspirations are there. I will encourage every single individual, to make the pledge that their leaders have made. They have pledged peace, equity transparency and adherence to the rule of law and I hope that every citizens will make their own pledge to peace. So, that Nigeria can remain the beacon of hope and tranquility to many”.
Noting that Nigeria is the biggest country in Africa, she averred that one in five Africans are Nigerians.
She added that what Nigeria does in term of aspirations and inspiration feeds the whole of the continent and the Commonwealth.
“We are waiting to applaud and celebrate the next peaceful transition of power from the hands of the incumbent current president to the next individual who will have the burden of looking after this magnificent country for the next few years and I just pledged that I will do anything that I can lawfully to to support this wonderful and brilliant country to make sure that all their dreams come true,” she concluded.
Earlier in his remarks, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, said that Nigeria appreciate the role of Commonwealth in supporting democracy in Africa and other countries of the world.
According to him, “You are here with your delegation to observe this elections and as you know that president Buhari is totally committed to democracy, not only in Nigeria but in ECOWAS region and indeed in Africa. He is absolutely determined that this should be one of his great legacies to be able to hand over to a successor in the framework of peaceful and transparent elections.
While appreciating the excellent cooperation that exists between Nigeria and the Commonwealth, under the incumbent Secretary General, the Minister concluded that democracy is core, in the heart of the commonwealth.
