Jonathan: 2015 elections will be better, freer

President Goodluck Jonathan has assured the international community that next the 2015 general election in Nigeria will be conducted in accordance with global best practice to further strengthen the country’s democratic institutions.

According to special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, Jonathan made the promise at separate meetings with United Nations secretary-general, Mr Ban Ki Moon, and British prime minister, Mr David Cameron, before leaving New York on Wednesday.

He said the president reaffirmed his personal commitment to making elections in Nigeria progressively better, freer and more credible.

“The president said that in keeping with his administration’s dedication to openness and transparency in the conduct of public affairs, international observers will be allowed to freely monitor the 2015 elections and affirm that the elections are as free, fair and credible as his administration has promised,” he said.

“He thanked Mr. Ban Ki Moon and Mr. Cameron for their continuing support for Nigeria’s effort to curb terrorism, insurgency and violent extremism within its borders, saying that the federal government will welcome even more assistance from Britain especially in the areas of intelligence sharing, anti- terrorism training and defence logistics.”

Abati disclosed that at a later meeting with director-general of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr. Margaret Chan, Jonathan expressed Nigeria’s appreciation of WHO’s support for the successful containment of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

Affirming that Nigeria is now Ebola-free, Jonathan called for greater international support to ensure the eradication of the virus in other West African countries still being ravaged.

“Nigeria is free of the virus now but we know that to be permanently free from it, we must remain vigilant and work with WHO and the international community to eradicate it completely from our sub-region and forestall the possibility of its re-emergence on our shores through migration,” he told Chan.

“President Jonathan also assured her that in spite of hindrances by insurgents, terrorists and violent extremists, the federal government remained fully committed to eradicating polio from Nigeria in the shortest possible time.

“Dr. Chan and Mr. Ban Ki Moon seized the opportunity of their meeting with President Jonathan to commend his exemplary leadership on Nigeria’s successful effort to stop the spreading of the Ebola Virus.”