President Goodluck Jonathan has congratulated Mr. Uhuru Kenyatta on his victory in Monday’s presidential election in Kenya, as declared on Saturday in Nairobi by the country’s Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.
“As Mr. Kenyatta prepares to assume office later this month as the first Kenyan President to come into office under the country’s new constitution which was adopted after the crisis that followed its 2007 elections, President Jonathan urges him to rededicate himself to carrying forward the process of national healing and reconciliation,” read a statement issued by Dr. Reuben Abati, the president’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity.
“President Jonathan calls on the Kenyan President-Elect to do his utmost best to foster greater peace, unity and progress in the country by forming a truly national administration that will meet the yearnings and aspirations of all Kenyans, including his opponents and their supporters.”
Jonathan applauded the call by Mr. Kenyatta’s closest rival for the Presidency, Prime Minister Raila Odinga, for his supporters to remain calm and eschew violent protests while he takes his complaints about the election results to the Kenyan Supreme Court.
“The president also welcomes 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,” the statement added.
Commending 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, Jonathan assured them of the best wishes of the Government and people of Nigeria.
