As a build up to the forthcoming power change in Nigeria, the United Nations (UN) has called on the President–Elect, General Muhammadu Buhari (retired) to consolidate on the victories over Boko Haram achieved so far by the outgoing government led by President Goodluck Jonathan in the north-eastern part of the country.
Muhammad Ibn Chambas, the West Africa Special Representative of the UN Secretary General, Mr Ban Ki-Moon, made the call on during a meeting with Buhari on Friday.
“Sustaining the victory achieved so far in the last six weeks by the military over the insurgents will give room for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of persons and communities affected by the attacks,” Chambas told newsmen after the tete-a-tete with Buhari.
The UN representative who described the recent elections in the country as a model for African countries and others around the world also commended Jonathan for his statesmanship in respect of the mature conduct he put on even when he lost at the polls.
According to Chambas Ki-moon personally admires Jonathan’s exemplary leadership, especially with regard to the conduct of the general elections in Nigeria.
He also reaffirmed the UN’s readiness to support the on-going effort by Nigeria and other countries in West and Central Africa to end the senseless attacks on the country’s citizens by the insurgents. He said the UN is very ready to work closely with the incoming administration in implementing some of its economic policies, as captured in the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign manifesto.
Responding, Buhari thanked the UN for the concern displayed by the organisation during the election and the support it rendered to the country’s electoral body INEC.
Buhari promised not to renege on his promise to end the scourge of Boko Haram.
Barely 24 hours ago, the outgoing president had at a meeting with Chambas and Central Africa UN representative Abdoulaye Bathily, issued an appealed to the UN to focus more on helping Nigeria with the rehabilitation of persons and reconstruction of communities destroyed by Boko Haram.
