Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan came under fire in the early hours of Saturday morning after he applauded Liberian President, George Weah for conceding election defeat to opposition leader, Joseph Boakai after a tight race.....CONTINUE READING
The Liberian election ended George Weah’s presidency which was marred by graft allegations.
Boakai, 78, a former vice president who lost to Weah in the 2017 election, led with 50.9% of the vote over Weah’s 49.1%, with nearly all the votes counted, the country’s elections commission said on Friday.
Reacting, Jonathan applauded Weah for treading the path he took when he lost the 2015 presidential election to his successor, Muhammadu Buhari.
The former Nigerian President said: “LIBERIA WINS, DEMOCRACY GAINS. Having led the West African Elders Forum (@TheWAEF ) Mediation Mission to both the October 10, 2023, general elections and the November 14, 2023, Presidential run-off poll in Liberia, I am deeply pleased with the successful outcome of the democratic process and look forward to a peaceful transition in January 2024.
“I congratulate the President-Elect His Excellency Joseph Boakai and urge him to be magnanimous in victory and seek to continue the efforts to unite and advance his country.
“I am also particularly grateful to the outgoing President His Excellency George Weah, who has just conceded defeat and congratulated his opponent even ahead of the official declaration of the final result by the National Election Commission of Liberia. By doing this, President Weah has exhibited an exemplary display of statesmanship and commitment to the peace and progress of his country.
“I am delighted that at the end of the exercise, Liberia wins, democracy gains and our sub-region, ECOWAS, is better for it.
-GEJ.”
However, this hasn’t sat well with Nigerians who faulted his handover of power to Buhari and aso tackled him for congratulating President Bola Tinubu’s election victory which was allegedly marred by malpractices.
