Jonathan opens to int’l recognition —Maitama Sule
Leader of the Nigeria Northern Elders Forum, Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule has described the gesture to concede defeat by the outgoing president Goodluck Jonathan as one that truly reflected his diplomacy capable of fetching him much international recognition.
The first republic minister said President Jonathan’s courage to accept the election outcome has demonstrated his belief in destiny, which should serve as lessons to Nigerian politicians.
Sule, in an interview with BBC Hausa yesterday also advised Buhari to uphold his known virtues of truthfulness, justice and intolerance to corruption, as those would help in meeting up with the yearnings of Nigerians.
“We thank the Almighty God, the president has really impressed Nigerians and Nigeria has impressed the international community. From what transpired in the campaigns, which became the most hotly in history, no one thought the election would be as peaceful as it turned to be. But God made it to be peaceful and we still live peacefully in the country.
“It will turn out to be good for him. He still has age by his side. There are many international positions, whether in the United Nations or in the African Union. By what he did, it is like he has laid the foundation of true democracy and if we continue in this way, then things would be better in the country.
“There was never an election where incumbent conceded defeat and congratulated the winner until this time, hence president Jonathan has shown his statesmanship, whose focus is on the country. What he did is a thing that must be emulated, because he has demonstrated that whatever happens is from God,” said Sule, who was a onetime Nigeria’s envoy to the UN.
He then advised Buhari to look at the projects and initiatives of the Jonathan administration and sieve out the good ones for continuity, saying that “our advice to the president-elect is that, he’s known with one thing: truthfulness and justice, and detests corruption. Therefore, I expect him to uphold these qualities.”