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Nigeria’s minister of foreign affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, says President Muhammadu Buhari will accept the outcome of the 2019 elections.
Onyeama who made this comment during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the presidential election is not a matter of life or death for Buhari because he is committed to ensuring a level playing field for all political parties.
His words: “He is fully committed to ensuring that the next election in 2019 is free, fair and transparent and that each vote counts,” the minister was quoted to have said.
“I think most importantly for him, it is not a matter of life or death. That is where he is coming from. He is very happy to accept whatever the outcome is and the will of the people.
“He doesn’t want to interfere with the process; he wants INEC to be totally independent for them to do the right thing. He is ready to invest and provide all the resources for them to be totally independent.”
The foreign affairs minister said Buhari would show “a good example” by practising what he preaches.
He gave examples of how Buhari had helped in ensuring democratic elections in some African countries.
Onyeama said Buhari led the intervention of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in the Gambia and sent special envoys to Mali, Guinea Bissau and Togo.
“He has been to Supreme Court to challenge election, he has been on the other side; he appreciates more than anyone else the importance of free, fair and transparent election,” he said.
“He always said that the electronic process that has been introduced helping to take away the human element has been the game-changer, something that he loves, so he believes in free and fair election.
“He has sent me as a special envoy to ensure that the electoral process in Guinea Bissau is on course; he sent me as a special envoy to Mali get the opposition to accept the court ruling after the election.
“He sent me as envoy to Togo to help them to push for a transparent and fair process as they are also preparing for legislative election.
“He went to the International Criminal Court as a special guest of honour and delivered a speech to the world about the importance and the rule of law and fair election.”