Jonathan: 2015 Elections will Meet Global Best Practices’ Criteria

                             

President Goodluck Jonathan

Jaiyeola Andrews in Abuja

President Goodluck Jonathan has given his words to the international community that 2015 general election in the country will meet  global best practices’ criteria.
In ensuring this, he said  democratic institutions in the country would be strengthened.

Jonathan made the assurance at separate meetings with the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, and the British Prime Minister, Mr. David Cameron, before leaving New York late on Wednesday.

In a statement by his spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, the  president  reaffirmed his personal commitment to making elections in Nigeria progressively better, freer and more credible.

According to Jonathan, in keeping with his administration’s dedication to openness and transparency in the conduct of public affairs, international observers would be allowed to freely monitor the 2015 elections and affirm that the elections are as free, fair and credible as his administration has promised. 

He thanked Ki-Moon and Cameron for their support towards Nigeria’s effort to curb terrorism, insurgency and violent extremism within its borders, saying the federal government would welcome even more assistance from Britain especially in the areas of intelligence sharing, anti-terrorism training and defence logistics.

At a later meeting with the Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr. Margaret Chan, Jonathan expressed Nigeria’s appreciation for the support it received from  WHO for the successful containment of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

Affirming that Nigeria was now Ebola-free, President Jonathan called for greater international support to ensure that the virus is also eradicated in other West Africa countries that it continues to ravage.

“Nigeria is free of the virus now but we know that to be permanently free from it, we must remain  vigilant and work with WHO and the international community to eradicate it completely from our sub-region and forestall the possibility of its re-emergence on our shores through migration,” the president said.
Jonathan also assured her that in spite of hindrances by insurgents, terrorists and violent extremists, the  federal government remained fully committed to eradicating polio from Nigeria in the shortest possible time.

Chan and Ki-Moon seized the opportunity of their meeting with Jonathan to commend his exemplary  leadership on Nigeria’s successful effort to stop the spreading of the Ebola Virus.