The President of Benin Republic, Boni Yayi, on Thursday paid glowing tributes to President Goodluck Jonathan for setting an exemplary leadership style in the African continent.
He gave the commendations after a closed-door meeting with President Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Noting that Jonathan played a leadership role in Africa, he recalled that the Nigerian leader had mediated in conflicts in many countries including Mali and Guinea Bissau.
Yayi said he couldn’t come before now to congratulate President Jonathan for presiding over a hitch free and successful elections, because of the legislative election held in Benin.
He said: “I came to congratulate my brother, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. He is a very great statesman, he organized a peaceful election in the largest country in sub Saharan Africa.
“To us, the election was very transparent and peaceful and coming back, he took a wonderful decision by calling his challenger to congratulate him even before the final result was released.
“Usually, in Africa, it is rare. He gave us very good example of democracy, not only in our sub-region, or the continent as a whole, but the whole world.
“My brother, we like to congratulate you on behalf of your colleagues in the sub region. He is really a great statesman. He successfully managed and led Nigeria to fight Boko Haram. It was not easy.
“Nigeria is a strong country, being able to set the pace in West Africa. Nigeria is great country and the President is a great president. Nigeria has been the first economic power in Africa. It is not easy.
“I will like to thank him because I’m the President of Benin and we depend on Nigeria. What he did here is of immense benefit to us.”
He also said that Nigeria has been playing leadership role in ECOWAS and the African Union. -The Nation.
