President Muhammadu Buhari and former President Goodluck Jonathan have congratulated former FIFA World Footballer of the Year, George Weah, on his election as the next President of the Republic of Liberia.
President Buhari in a statement issued by his media aide, Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Friday, also commended the Liberian people on the peaceful conduct of the historic presidential run-off election.
He described the peaceful conduct of the election as “another plus on Africa’s democratic scoreboard.’’
The President equally applauded the efforts of the National Election Commission of Liberia, as well as regional and international observers who had contributed immensely to the electoral process and the strengthening of post-conflict democracy in the West African country.
While describing Weah’s victory as an affirmation of the will of the Liberian people to remain united, peaceful and prosperous, Buhari pledged Nigeria’s readiness to work with Liberia on issues of mutual interest at bilateral, regional and global levels for the benefit of citizens of both countries.
The Nigerian leader also commended outgoing President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, “under whose 12-year watch Liberia had transformed from being a pariah state to a country doing remarkably well on many fronts.’’
Former President Jonathan, who led the National Democratic Institute (NDI) International Elections Observation Mission to Liberia, posted his goodwill message to Weah on his Facebook page, on Friday.
Jonathan advised Weah to maintain his open door policy in his new position, saying “everybody is a winner when democracy wins, and democracy has won today”.
Jonathan also commended Liberians for demonstrating the willingness to give democracy a chance.
“Throughout my political life, I have lived by the creed that nobody’s political ambition is worth the blood of their citizens.
“I am most grateful to the nation of Liberia and especially the candidates, Weah and Mr Joseph Boakai, for living up to this creed.
“As co-leader of the NDI International Elections Observation Mission to Liberia for these elections, I salute the zest for democracy of the Liberian people.”
Jonathan and other leaders of the NDI delegation had in a preliminary statement issued in Monrovia on Thursday, acclaimed the polls as peaceful, orderly and well-organised.
