In talks with Kerry, Buhari thanks US, technology over peaceful polls

Tuesday, July 21, 2015 10:40 pm

Buhari and John Kerry in Washington

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Washington met with the U.S. Secretary of State, Mr John Kerry, where he reiterated his appreciation to the U.S. for its support and assistance to Nigeria.

He particularly thanked Kerry, who visited Nigeria twice before the conduct of the March 28 presidential election and presented America’s government position on the need for free and fair general elections in Nigeria.

Buhari said that Nigeria would remain grateful to the U.S. for exerting pressure on the former government to ensure peaceful and credible elections.

“The U.S. message sent to the previous administration was clean and clear that the American government will not accept anything extra constitutional and that prepared the minds of Nigerians to make us arrive where we are today.

“Nigerians will remain very grateful to the U.S., to the President and to the Secretary of State and by the day the U.S. maintained pressure on former government, law enforcement agencies and the electoral body to make sure that elections were free and fair.

“We thank God; we thank the U.S. and we thank technology by the introduction of Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) and Card Readers which made so much difference from previous elections.’’

In his remarks, Kerry reiterated the determination of the American government to partner with Nigeria in tackling the problems of insecurity, corruption and other socio-economic vices facing Nigeria.

According to him, Nigeria is an extra ordinary and important country to the U.S. and the government will continue to assist Nigeria to enable it to perform its national and regional responsibilities in Africa.

Kerry, who described President Buhari as “an intelligent retired military officer’’, expressed confidence in the ability of the President to fight corruption and the menace of Boko Haram insurgency.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Buhari had earlier met with U.S. President Barrack Obama on Monday, where the two presidents addressed newsmen after over an hour closed door meeting at the White House.