BY OKEY NDIRIBE

Members of the diplomatic corps in the country, weekend, commended the Federal Government for the successful conduct of the 2011 general elections. The position of the diplomatic corps was disclosed by Dianame Yameogo, Ambassador of Burkina Fasso to Nigeria, who is also the Dean of the Diplomatic Community in the country, at a briefing held by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Odein Ajumogobia.

He stated that the successful conduct of the poll was not an achievement for Nigeria alone but Africa in general, adding that the election had set a new standard for conducting elections on the continent.

Said he: “We believe the 2011 elections were well conducted. At the level of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, we  monitored the election and are convinced it was credible,  free and fair. It is clear that the polls were well conducted.”

In his earlier remarks, Ajumogobia stated that even the opposition political parties in the country admitted that the polls were well conducted, adding that the outcome substantially reflected the wishes of Nigerians.

He continued: “I find it difficult to understand how somebody could accept the 2011 electoral process and the integrity of  chairman of commission but went ahead to allege that the outcome was rigged.”

Ajumogobia  further stated that the Federal Government  regretted the violence which erupted during the polls.
Said he: “The Federal Government deeply regrets the violence which erupted during the polls. We deeply regret the death of members of the National Youths Service Corps, NYSC, who served as adhoc staff during the polls.”

The Foreign Affairs Minister also stated that the Federal Government expected   that the integrity of the 2011 general elections should have insulated it from violence but regretted that it did not.

Said he: “It is noteworthy that the violence erupted in states where the ruling party lost the polls.”

FG pays tribute to Late Yar’Ádua
He paid tribute to the late President Umar Yar’Adua  who he said began the process of ensuring that a credible election  was  conducted in the country, adding that the nation’s foreign policy would not  change, even though a new administration would be inaugurated on May 29.