President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday in Abuja congratulated Mali’s President-elect, Mr. Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, on his victory in last Sunday’s run-off presidential election in the country.
A statement issued by Dr Reuben Abati, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, said Jonathan also commended the people of Mali for successfully conducting the elections.
The president congratulated them for taking a major step toward the full restoration of democratic governance to their country.
He said Nigeria looked forward to the conclusion of the process with Mr. Keita’s inauguration as president in keeping with the wish of the Malian people as expressed at the polls on Sunday.
Jonathan said he believed that, having served capably as his country’s Prime Minister for many years, Mr. Keita would assume the Malian presidency with the requisite experience, knowledge and wisdom needed to guide the country.
The president said that it was expected that Mali, under him, would move toward a speedy return to peace, normalcy, political stability and further development.
President Jonathan assured Keita of the support, assistance and cooperation of Nigeria, ECOWAS and the African Union as he prepared to assume the burden of leading Mali away from political strife and instability, to national peace and progress.
He wished the Malian president-elect a very successful tenure in office.
