The
federal government has donated 15 Hilux operational vehicles and 100
motorcycles to the independent national electoral commission of Benin Republic,
Commission Electorale Nationale Autonome (CENA), to enable it conduct a
credible presidential election.
The
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bulus Lolo, who
presented the items in Cotonou, said that free, peaceful and credible election
in Benin was of interest to Nigeria.
The
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the presidential election will hold
on March 6, 2016 and 36 candidates have been cleared to contest the election.
Lolo
encouraged the people of Benin and the electoral commission to conduct the
elections in peaceful, transparent and credible manner.
“Nigeria
and Benin are neighbours; what happens in Benin is of immediate impact and
interest to Nigeria and what happens in Nigeria has impact and is of interest
to Benin.
“Besides,
we are one and the same people separated by colonial rule and because of this
separation with a borderline, we tend to think that we are different people.
“Therefore,
our being here today to support the electoral process in Benin is a clear
demonstration of our solidarity, brotherhood and friendship,” he said.
According
to him, Nigeria wants to share its experience with Benin to encourage the
people of the country that there is no alternative to democratic governance.
“You
are witnesses to the landmark change that took place in Nigeria in 2015
following the election of President Muhammadu Buhari in a peaceful, transparent
and legitimate election without rancour.
“That
election in Nigeria was a landmark because for the first time, a ruling party
that had been in office for 16 years was voted out of office.
“Through
the free will of the Nigerian people, the election ushered in an opposition
party for the first time in the history of Nigeria,” he said.
Lolo,
however, said the peaceful change could not have been possible were it not for
the courageous and independence of the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC).
“INEC
was courageous enough to declare the winner after the event that took place in
Nigeria.
“Today, the support we are rendering to Benin is to enable the CENA stand firm and ensure that the votes of the people count,” he said.
He
said the support being given to Benin was a clear demonstration of Nigeria’s
conviction that democracy must take very deep roots in our systems and in
African countries.
Responding,
the President of CENA, Tiando Emmanuel, commended Nigeria’s support to Benin at
all times, saying that the donation would assist the electoral body to enhance
its performance.
“The
quality of relationship between Nigeria is demonstrated by the frequent
meetings that exist between the two countries.
“During
the last meeting with INEC, I told the INEC Chairman that Nigeria is the senior
brother of Benin and the senior brother cannot abandon the junior brother.
“This
gesture will allow CENA to reach the farthest parts of Benin during the
election and will reinforce our democracy in Benin and democratic values in
Africa,” Emmanuel said.
Nigeria’s
Ambassador to Benin, Dr. Lawrence Obisakin, commended the leadership qualities
of Buhari, who has supported democracy in Africa since he assumed office.
Obisakin
said Buhari had further re-asserted Nigeria’s continental leadership.
The
Ambassador of Benin to Nigeria, Mr. Oyedekpo Laleye, lauded the cooperation
between the two countries, pledging that the donation would be used for the
betterment of the people.
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