President of Ivory Coast, Alassan Quattara has promised President Elect, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari that Ivory Coast and Nigeria would work hand in hand to ensure stronger integration of western region.
Quattara said this while speaking to reporters after his closed door meeting with the President Elect. Quattara said “I have come to Nigeria to congratulate my brother the president-elect on his victory and to let him know that the process of this election is a great pride to all of us and the rest of African countries. The peaceful process is a lesson for all African countries.
“You will recalled that in my own country in 2010 when we had the presidential election, the former president did not want to leave office and this led to a civil war during which 3,000 people died.
“So, we are very proud of the Nigerian people. I came to congratulate my brother President Buhari and tell him that my country and Nigeria will work hand in hand for stronger integration of the West African region.
“Nigeria is very important to all of us for its leadership and I think I met President Buhari a few years back, we will continue to work together to make sure that the West African region and the people the region can seek more prosperity and better lives.”
Buhari also said “He is here, all I did was to thank him very much for coming to congratulate us. And I think more specifically to congratulate President Goodluck Jonathan, for his statesmanship because when President Quattara referred to his own experience where he was under siege for more than four months, because his predecessor refused to acknowledge his victory.
“In Nigeria, the opposite happened, hence we are enjoying the peace, so I specifically congratulate President Jonathan for his statesmanship.”