The will of the people had triumphed, says Ouattara

Yamoussoukro -  President Alassane Ouattara of Cote d’Ivoire on Saturday called for a return to civility in Cote d’Ivoire, promising to institute investigations into the five-month political crisis that rocked the country.

“Ivorians are known for their hospitality and fraternity, not violence, ‘’ the president said at his investiture at the Houphouet Boigny Foundation in Yamoussoukro.

The president, who  said many rights were violated in the post election crisis, called  on all the victims of the crisis to remain patient and seek justice in the right way

Mr Ouattara thanked the international community for its support and said the will of the people had triumphed.

He said the day represented a “historic moment” for the people of Ivory Coast.

“This day is, for all Ivorians, the start of an era that marks our common will to write a new page in the history of our country. The grave crisis that Ivory Coast went through… is now behind us.

Ouattara said the new government would speed up the path to economic recovery for the country, with  particular focus on revamping the education and  health sectors  as well as  infrastructure.

“I will pay particular attention to  girl-child education,’’ he added.

Ouattara said the transport sector, especially the railways, would be revamped within a short period to bolster the business sector.

The Ivorian president gave special recognition to the United Nations as well as the Nigerian and  Burkinabe presidents for their intervention in the Ivorian political crisis.

According to him, the intervention of the international community guaranteed the return of democracy to Cote d’Ivoire.

He said the country had always been friendly with its neighbours, promising that the cordiality created by former President Houpouet Boigny would be resuscitated.

Ouattara sworn in Ouattara sworn in as Ivory Coast president

Ouattara paid special tribute to Boigny for laying a framework for the growth and prosperity of the country, adding that his successor, Henry Konan Bedie, also played a key role in the sustainability of the country.

Before his speech, the president was decorated by  Henriette Dagri Diabite,  a former Secretary of the Rally of the Republicans (RHDP) and the President of the Ivorian Chancellory.

In her remarks, Diabite  said the president had distinguished himself both in the private and the public sector, working for the IMF as Deputy Managing Director and serving as a former prime minister.

Ouattara was declared winner of the presidential election held in Cote d’Ivoire on Nov.  28, 2010, but his opponent in the election, former president Laurent Gbagbo,  refused to hand over power.

Gbagbo said the election was rigged in Ouattara’s favour.

The former president’s friends in the Constitutional Council declared him the winner and he was sworn in on Dec.  5, 2010.

But  Ouattara had earlier sworn  himself in as president  at  a small ceremony at the Golf hotel in Abidjan on Dec.  4, 2010, pushing the country into a political deadlock for five months.

Ignoring international pressure and advice, Gbagbo ordered his army to besiege the Golf hotel where Ouattara was held up for five months.

Ouattara was, however, protected by the UN military force.

Gbagbo turned down offers and invitations from the U S, French and Nigerian Governments for political asylum, with seven heads of states visiting the country to persuade him to hand over power.

Rebels in the Northern part of the country fought their way into Abidjan on March 27, 2011, and supported by French soldiers and the UN military force,   arrested Gbagbo on April 11, 2011.

He was arrested in his bedroom with his wife, Simeone, who had been a firm and open supporter of the former president holding on to power.

The UN said more than 3,000 people were killed in the five-month political crisis which grounded the economy, especially the main stay of the Ivorian economy, Cocoa.

Ivorians had struggled to pick up the pieces of their  lives after the crisis, with Ouattara assuring of speedy recovery of  the economy.

Ouattara had directed all public hospitals to treat citizens for free, but the queues forced many to go to the private hospitals. (NAN)