Xi congratulates Buhari on re-election

Nigerian newly elected president says he will lead the country to the ‘next level’

Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent a congratulatory message to Muhammadu Buhari on his re-election as Nigerian president.

In the Friday message, Xi said he attaches great importance to the development of China-Nigeria relations and would like to work with Buhari to continuously lift the Sino-Nigerian strategic partnership to higher levels by implementing the outcomes of the 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, so as to better benefit the two countries and their people.

Buhari, candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress party, won the presidential election last week by securing 55.6 percent of the votes, according to Nigeria’s electoral body, the Independent National Electoral Commission.

In his acceptance speech, Buhari said he would focus on consolidating his achievements to take the country to the “next level” during his second term of office.

“I can assure that you will see a country moving to the next level, as we consolidate on our fundamental areas of securing the country, reviving the economy, and fighting corruption,” the 76-year-old president said.

The runner-up, Atiku Abubakar of the main opposition People’s Democratic Party, won more than 11 million votes, or 41.2 percent of the total.

In Nigeria, the candidate with the most votes is declared the winner as long as he or she wins at least 25 percent of the vote in two-thirds of Nigeria’s 36 states. Buhari won in 19 states, mostly in the northern part of the country, which has been his stronghold since 2003.

The final results was released after a three-day collation of polls from all states, including the capital Abuja.

The Electoral Commission presented a certificate of return to Buhari and vice-president Yemi Osinbajo in the Nigerian capital last Wednesday. The certificate formally validates their re-elections.

Buhari said he and his team will “roll up their sleeves afresh”, and give their best in his second term of office.

Peaceful process

“The hard work to deliver a better Nigeria continues, building on the foundations of peace, rule of law and opportunities for all,” he said. “We have no other motive than to serve Nigeria with our hearts and might, and build a nation which we and generations to come can be proud of.”

Moussa Faki Mahamat, chairman of the African Union Commission, welcomed the successful conduct of the presidential elections in Nigeria on Friday.

In a statement, Faki noted that the African Union Observer Mission and other international observers concluded that the process was “largely peaceful and orderly and in conformity with Nigeria’s legal framework, thus marking another important step in the consolidation of democracy in Nigeria.”

Faki “commends the INEC (Electoral Commission) for the conduct of the elections, and all the political actors and the Nigerian people for their high participation and maturity,” the statement said.

Faki called on all stakeholders that were involved in Nigeria’s election process “to continue in this exemplary spirit.”

After Buhari’s re-election, African leaders have also sent congratulation for his winning the second term.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta tweeted: “Your victory is a clear demonstration of the trust and confidence the people of Nigeria have in your ability to lead the country to greater heights of progress.”

Kenyatta added that he looks forward to continuing working closely with Buhari in consolidating mutually beneficial areas of cooperation for the greater good of the two countries.

President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana also congratulated Buhari for his victory.

“The Ghanaian people, their government and I extend warm congratulations to Muhammadu Buhari on his re-election, for a second successive term,” he wrote in his official Twitter account.

Muhammadu Buhari