EU observers say President is a good example to the world

THE European Union (EU) Observer Mission for Nigeria’s 2015 general elections has described President Goodluck Jonathan as a good example to the world following the transparent manner the just-conducted polls was held with the President conceding to his main challenger without rancour.

The Head EU Observer Mission, Santiago Fisas‎, who led a delegation of the Mission to present a preliminary report of its findings to the President at the Aso Rock Villa yesterday, said the action of President Jonathan would make Nigeria, Africa and the world proud.

The EU chief, while speaking with State House correspondents after submitting the report, said he lauded the President for the transparent manner the elections were conducted, even in the face of the initial logistic problems and the resilience of Nigerians to make the election work.

“I congratulate him for that and I seized the opportunity to give to him our preliminary report about the election. I will come back in July with the final statement at a press conference and to give it to the new president our recommendations as would be contained in the final reports. I will also want to give the report to the President.

The top diplomat described the March 28 elections as important not only for the people of Nigeria, but a shining example for all Africa and countries in the world, adding that many people expected the country to explode, but that did not happen.

His words: “You know many people didn’t expect that the elections will be peaceful; they expected a lot of violence after the elections but it turned out not to be true, and also I congratulate President Jonathan. But more importantly, I would like to congratulate Nigerian people because they showed a lot of commitment to that election. Not in all circumstances would you see such that.

People stood in the sun for a very long and hot day despite some problems. Even at that, it shows that you Nigerians are truly democratic.

“We are observers and we have made our recommendations and I don’t want to advance the final report that will be finished after the gubernatorial elections when we shall embark on new ideas with a new President, probably that will be in July.