ABUJA – (State House Press Report) – President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House in Abuja, while playing host to the West African Elders Forum Pre-Election Mediation Mission, led by the former Sierra Leonean President, Ernest Bai Koroma (Dr) has expressed thanks to the delegation for accepting to do the service for the sub-region.
The President told his guests, citing off-season elections held in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun States as pointer to the fact that the Federal Government would allow people to choose the leaders they want.
“That right is guaranteed. We are settling down, and making progress. People should vote whoever they want, in whatever party. We shall not allow anyone to use money and thugs to intimidate the people. Nigerians know better now, they are wiser, and know that it is better to dialogue than to carry weapons. Elections are even more difficult to rig now,” President Buhari affirmed.
The former Sierra Leonean President, Ernest Koroma, who led a team, including the former Vice President of The Gambia, Fatoumata Tambajang; former Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations, Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas; the Executive Director of Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, Ann Iyonu said that they had met with stakeholders across the parties, civil society and Independent National Electoral Commission, among others and commend him for making it clear both locally and internationally that the elections would be free and fair.
He lauded President Buhari for not listening to voices that may have tried to convince him to seek a third term in office, against the laws of the country, noting that other countries look up to Nigeria for direction. He emphasised that when there were issues in Sierra Leone and Liberia, it was Nigeria that came in to stabilize the system.
Ernest Koroma urged the Nigerian leader to look into other areas of concern as raised by the stakeholders, including security and issues that may cast doubts on the clarity and credibility of the elections.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media and Publicity)
