- Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari congratulates George Weah as the President-elect of Liberia
- President Buhari describes Weah’s victory as an affirmation of the will of the Liberian people to remain united
- He wishes President-elect Weah and Liberians a peaceful transition
President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday, December 29, congratulated former football star, George Weah, on his election as the next President of the Republic of Liberia.
NAIJ.com gathered that the president in a statement from his special adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, also commended the people of the West African country on the peaceful conduct of the polls.
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He also noted that President Sirleaf deserves a special commendation for the statesmanship she has shown in ensuring free and fair elections that will pave the way for a peaceful transfer of political power.
Read the statement below:
"On behalf of the Government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari warmly congratulates Mr George Weah on his election as the next President of the Republic of Liberia.
President Buhari also commends the Liberian people on the peaceful conduct of the historic presidential run-off election, stressing that “this is another plus on Africa’s democratic scoreboard.”
The President equally applauds the efforts of the National Election Commission of Liberia, as well as regional and international observers who have contributed immensely to the electoral process and the strengthening of post-conflict democracy in the West African country.
Describing Weah’s victory as an affirmation of the will of the Liberian people to remain united, peaceful and prosperous, President 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 commends 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 such as, women and civil rights issue, peace building and consolidation, ECOWAS and the Mano River Union.
President Buhari also notes that President Sirleaf deserves special commendation for the statesmanship she has shown in ensuring free and fair elections that will pave the way for a peaceful transfer of political power from one democratically elected leader to another for the first time in 73 years.
Wishing President-elect Weah and Liberians a peaceful transition, he reassures them of Nigeria’s determination to sustain the current cordial relationship with Liberia."
NAIJ.com previously reported that George Weah, a former international football star from Liberia has finally been declared winner of the electoral run-off in the country after beating his opponent, Joseph Boakai, the BBC has reported.
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The former footballer will now succeed Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa's first elected female president, in Liberia's first democratic handover after civil war.
The report quoted the National Elections Commission (NEC) as saying on Thursday, December 28, Weah had won 61.5 percent of the vote while Boakai was far behind with 38.5 percent.
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Source: Naija.ng
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Saturday, 30 December 2017