2015 General Election Advances Nigeria’s Democracy, Says Buhari

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines Thursday, October 6th, 2016

By Niyi Adeyi

ABUJA, NIGERIA (AFRICAN EXAMINER) – President Muhammadu Buhari says Nigeria’s democracy has been strengthened by the outcome of the 2015 general elections.

Buhari made the statement Thursday in Abuja, in his address at the Leadership Annual Awards and Conference.

Nigerians, Mr. President observed now have more faith in the country’s electoral system, having realized that their votes would count when choosing political leaders at various levels.

The events of 2015 which the Leadership Newspaper organized, President noted, marked a watershed in the political history of the country.

President Buhari stated that the actors in the elections were led by the higher ideal of the future of the country, as well as the well-being of the people, rather than the “mere desire of politicians to win elections”.

He indicated that it was due to the patriotic zeal of former President Goodluck Jonathan, the impartiality of the electoral umpire – the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and exemplary conduct of the political parties, foreign pressure and other actors that the country “disappointed the prophets of doom who had predicted the disintegration of the country after the 2015 general elections”.

He therefore called on the political class to build on the experience of the 2015 general elections to nurture the country’s democracy.

“Our participation in today’s ceremony is therefore, a mark of confidence in the brand of journalism practiced by the Leadership Newspapers Group as it is a public acknowledgment of the contributions of the media to our administration’s agenda to defeat terrorism and violent extremism in the country, fight corruption and diversify the economy to create jobs for our teeming population and generally improve the standard of living of Nigerians” the President noted.

President Buhari said he expected the Nigerian media to join his government in “pursuit of these goals not just to criticize to prove their independence”.

He reiterated that the media must continually see itself as true partner in the task of nation building, therefore, act in the spirit of patriotism at all times in the important role of informing the people of the country.

President Buhari congratulated other recipients of “Leadership Person of the Year” award, including the immediate past President; former INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega and former Head of State, Gen. Abubakar Abdul Salami.