11th October, 2015
Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has hailed the appointment of
former President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan as leader of a 33-nation
observer mission to the Sunday, October 25, 2015 general election to
be held in Tanzania, describing it as “a global recognition of the
former president’s democratic credentials.”
He said: “Jonathan’s appointment to lead the Commonwealth observer
team, comprising 33 countries, is recognition of his remarkable role
in the last presidential election, in which he conceded defeat,
thereby saving Nigeria from catastrophe that even the international
community thought would befall the country.”
Speaking through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and
New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose said; “Jonathan should be
celebrated and I am happy that the world is beginning to give him the
deserved recognition and celebration less than five months that he
left office.”
He said Dr Jonathan’s courage and spirit of sportsmanship in accepting
the outcome of the presidential election despite the obvious
shortcomings saved the nation from political chaos and violence,
adding that “Jonathan provided the foundation on which democracy is
standing in Nigeria today and one is not surprised that he is being
asked to lead the Commonwealth election observer team from 33 nations
to Tanzania.
“Even if those who benefitted from his show of love and commitment to
the peace and development of Nigeria are paying him back with
persecution and victimisation, I am happy that the former President
and those who worked with him are being celebrated globally.
“Today, four of those who worked with Jonathan, who were called
thieves by our friends on the other side, are holding top positions in
international organisations.
“Mrs. Omobola Johnson, the immediate past Minister of Communication
Technology is a Honorary Chairperson of the Alliance for Affordable
Internet (A4AI), a United States based global coalition; Ngozi
Okonjo-Iweala, former Finance Minister now chair the Board of the
Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation, GAVI, as well as senior
advisor to Lazard, a 167-year-old global investment firm; Mrs Arunma
Oteh, former Director General of Securities and Exchange Commission
(SEC) is the Treasurer and Vice President of the World Bank and Dr.
Akinwumi Adesina, former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development
is President of the African Development Bank (AfDB).
“I therefore congratulate Dr Jonathan and urge those currently
holding power in Abuja to emulate him by putting Nigeria and its
interests first.”