Commonwealth extols GEJ’s ‘able leadership’

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, former president of Nigeria, on Thursday paid a courtesy call on Kamalesh Sharma, the Commonwealth secretary-general, at Marlborough House, headquarters of the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Welcoming Jonathan to Marlborough House for the first time, Sharma thanked him for his “able leadership” of the recent Commonwealth Election Observer Group (COG) to Tanzania, and subsequently, for his services to the Commonwealth as his Special Representative, following the annulment of the elections in Zanzibar.

He also paid tribute to the “personal leadership” of the former president in the peaceful transition to a new government in Nigeria after the last election.

The former president briefed the secretary-general on the activities of the Observer Group in Tanzania, and lauded the Commonwealth Secretariat for supporting him with a team that displayed a high level of team spirit and professionalism.

Jonathan further welcomed the opportunity to be of service to the Commonwealth as the leader of the COG, describing it as “a great honour, both for him, and for Nigeria”.

He expressed concerns about the persisting uncertainty in Zanzibar following the cancellation of the October 25 general elections. But he expressed hope that the leaders of the country would put the national interest and the people of Zanzibar first, as they seek a sustainable and peaceful solution to the impasse in the ongoing national dialogue.

Jonathan assured Sharma that he would continue to take an interest in developments in Zanzibar as his Special Representative.

He commended the Commonwealth for its efforts in promoting peaceful and credible elections globally, especially in Africa. He pledged to work with the organisation in the promotion of democracy and good governance, and in countering violent extremism on the continent.

The Commonwealth has a longstanding and historical engagement with Zanzibar, where it played a key role in resolving previous crisis, leading to the Muafaka agreements in 1999 and 2001.