Abuja, Nigeria - Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan, has urged the Kenyan president-elect, Uhuru Kenyatta, to form a truly national government that will meet the yearnings and aspirations of all Kenyans, including his opponents and their supporters.
In a congratulatory message to Kenyatta, who was Saturday officially declared winner of the 4 March polls, President Jonathan said Kenyatta must work towards fostering greater peace, unity and progress in his country.
'As Mr. Kenyatta prepares to assume office later this month as the first Kenyan President under the country’s new constitution which was adopted after the crisis that followed its 2007 elections, you must rededicate yourself to carrying forward the process of national healing and reconciliation,' a presidency press statement issued here Saturday quoted President Jonathan
as saying.
President Jonathan applauded Mr. Kenyatta’s closest rival, outgoing Prime Minister Raila Odinga, for calling on his supporters to remain calm and eschew violence while he challenges Kenyatta's victory in the Kenyan Supreme Court.
The President also welcomed Mr. Odinga’s expression of confidence in the court and his pledge to adhere to the rule of law and accept the court’s verdict on the elections in good faith.
President Jonathan commended the ordinary people of Kenya who showed their undying faith in democratic governance by turning out in their millions to set a new voter turn-out record of 86 per cent in Monday’s elections.
Pana 09/03/2013