French President called Buhari to come to Paris

French President Francois Hollande spoke with President- elect,
Muhammadu Buhari, on the telephone on Thursday and
invited him to Paris for discussions on the expansion of
trade between France and Nigeria.
A statement by the French Embassy in Abuja said the French
leader congratulated Buhari on his success and noted the
peaceful and fair electoral process which had enhanced
Nigeria’s democracy.
“The French head of state assured the President-elect of
France’s wish to continue the close relationship that existed
with his predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan, and reiterated
France’s support for Nigeria and its neighbours in their
efforts to combat the terrorist sect, Boko Haram,” the
statement added.
Hollande also expressed his wish to expand trade between
France and Nigeria and invited his Nigerian counterpart to
Paris.
Meanwhile, more government officials on Thursday trooped
to the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to solidarise with President
Jonathan, two days after he lost his re-election bid.
Those who met the President in his office included ministers,
heads of government agencies and Peoples Democratic
Party chiefs.
Others were Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom
State; Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State and
Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State.
While Akpabio and Suswam met the President in his office,
Lamido met Jonathan inside his official residence in the
evening.
The governor arrived when the President was breaking his
fast with some clergymen who were led by his Chaplain,
Venerable Obioma Onwuzurumba.
In a related development, Akpabio, who is also the Chairman
of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum, has
commended President Jonathan for accepting the result of
the March 28 presidential election.
A statement signed by the Commissioner of Information,
Mr. Aniekan Umana, in Uyo on Thursday, hailed Jonathan for
his statesman-like disposition in congratulating, in real time,
the President-elect.
“With this, President Jonathan has destroyed the sit-tight
syndrome associated with African leaders and placed
Nigeria as a beacon of true democracy to the rest of African
and indeed, the global community,” he said.
Akpabio also congratulated the President-elect and urged
him to institute an inclusive government that would give a
sense of belonging to all Nigerians, irrespective of gender,
ethnicity or religion.
He asked all the PDP faithful to remain united and to display
their strength by returning over 20 PDP governors into office
in April 11.
Also, a former Petroleum Minister, Chief Don Etiebet,
congratulated Buhari for his resilience.
He said Buhari’s resilience was an indication that he is a true
patriot, a man who placed the love of his country above
every other thing.
Etiebet also commended the sportsmanship attitude which
President Jonathan displayed in accepting the defeat.
He added that Jonathan’s attitude had shown that there
were leaders in the country who would not risk the unity of
Nigeria for their personal interests.
“Kudos to President Jonathan for being such an exemplary
statesman. Nigeria is proud of you,” he said.
He, however, stated that the actions of the two leaders
demonstrated a new beginning in Nigeria. He said this was
bound to take the country on new paths of democracy and
development as the alternation of political leadership brings
about true democracy and good governance based on the
competitiveness of their performance.
According to him, Nigerians love Jonathan and that the new
government will not forget the roles he played and the
transformation agenda he put in place.
He noted that the action had also proven to the rest of the
world that Nigeria is, indeed, the biggest democracy in
Africa.

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