UN official says Nigeria's elections a model in Africa

The UN joint mission on Nigeria's general elections has said the general elections were a model in Africa which other nations on the continent should emulate.

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in West Africa, Mohammed Ibn-Chambas, and his counterpart in Central Africa, Abdoulaye Bathily, said this at a joint briefing at the State House, Abuja after both envoys met with President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday.

Ibn-Chambas, the spokesperson, said the UN admired the Nigerian President for the exemplary leadership he displayed during the conduct of the elections.

He said the team's admiration was for President Goodlook Jonathan for the exemplary leadership they had seen, particularly with regard to the conduct of elections.

"During his tenure, he has been able to work to deliver two credible, peaceful and transparent elections for Nigeria," he added, noting that in this presidential election that just ended, he has been truly a model for Africa.

"I have always said that this year is election year for West Africa. And to have started on such a bright note. Nigeria has given us a model of what peaceful and credible elections are," Ibn- Chambas said.

He said it was reassuring for the UN system, adding that it hoped that other West African countries which would be holding elections would learn from the good example of Nigeria.

The envoys said they discussed the efforts made by the Jonathan administration in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency and expressed gratitude to him for the successes he recorded.

"Boko Haram terrorism is a menace to both West Africa and to Central Africa. And that is why this joint mission came to see how the countries in Western and Cental Africa can better coordinate their efforts to bring an end to Boko Haram terrorism," he added.

The President and his government promised that Boko Haram would not be allowed to disrupt the elections and indeed that was the case.

He said it was time for the UN to coordinate with the rest of the countries: Cameroon, Niger and Chad in particular, the Lake Chad basin countries, to talk about post Boko Haram reconstruction.

He said such efforts would deal with the humanitarian, the developmental and human rights aspects of this crisis.

"On these, the United Nations is willing to do, working with all these countries and the Nigerian leadership," he added. Endi