[ 2015-04-01 ]

Buhari's victory shows "people have the power to change govts" – Akufo-Addo
Three-time flagbearer of Ghana’s main opposition
New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo has
said the electoral victory of General Mahammudu
Buhari in Nigeria’s presidential elections
reinforces the notion that the people of a country
wield the power to change governments.

The former Military leader polled about 15 million
votes ahead of incumbent Goodluck Jonathan’s 13
million votes.

In a congratulatory message, Mr Akufo-Addo said:
“This is the first time, in Nigeria’s history,
that one democratically elected government has
been voted out for another, and that a sitting
President has been rejected at the polls. This
change, after 16 years of the Fourth Republic,
should go a long way to enhancing the quality of
competitive governance in Nigeria. It has
reinforced the democratic notion that the people
have the power to change governments.”

Below is the full statement:

I join well-wishers in the rest of Africa and
across the world to extend warm congratulations to
the APC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu
Buhari, on his decisive victory in the March 28,
29 Nigerian presidential election, thus becoming
the next President of the Federal Republic.

Through the peaceful exercise of their sovereign
and democratic right to elect their own leaders,
the people of Nigeria have strengthened the
frontiers of democracy for all other African
countries to emulate.

This is the first time, in Nigeria’s history,
that one democratically elected government has
been voted out for another, and that a sitting
President has been rejected at the polls. This
change, after 16 years of the Fourth Republic,
should go a long way to enhancing the quality of
competitive governance in Nigeria. It has
reinforced the democratic notion that the people
have the power to change governments.

President Goodluck Jonathan is to be commended for
graciously conceding defeat, thereby laying to
rest any lingering suspicion and anxiety about the
fate of Nigeria in the aftermath of the
elections.

By their exemplary conduct, both outgoing
President Jonathan and his successor have
reinforced the resilience of Nigeria's democracy,
and demonstrated to the entire world that politics
in Africa can be positively competitive, when
conducted on the basis of time-honoured principles
of transparency, fairness and equal opportunity.

I hope that the determination and perseverance
shown over the years by General Buhari, evident in
this victory, which is his 4th attempt at the
Presidency, will result in him bringing his wealth
of experience, as a military ruler and
subsequently as an acknowledged democrat, to the
fore in delivering unity, security, progress and
prosperity to the Nigerian people.

I also hope that the President-elect would
continue in the stead of past Nigerian leaders and
deepen further the friendship that exists between
Nigeria and Ghana, which has been based on a
shared agenda of stability, security, development
and prosperity.

Warm congratulations once again to the
President-Elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, and
best wishes for his success as he prepares to take
up the huge responsibilities and challenges of the
high office of President of the Federal Republic
of Nigeria.

……signed……

Nana Akufo-Addo

2016 NPP Presidential Candidate, Ghana

Source - Nana Addo Dankwa Akufu Addo

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