COTE D' IVOIRE'S OUATTARA VISITS JONATHAN, RECOUNTS GBAGBO EPISODE

The president of Côte d'Ivoire, Alassane Quattara, on Monday visited President Goodluck Jonathan at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa Abuja where they met behind closed doors.
Quattara later told State House journalists that he came to congratulate Jonathan, President-elect General Muhammadu Buhari and Nigerians on the successful conduct of the 2015 general elections.
He described Nigeria's elections as a lesson and legacy to other African nations, saying avoiding violence and civil war over elections should be the utmost objective of the continent.
The Ivoirian president recounted the anguish his predecessor, Laurent Gbagbo, unleashed on Côte d'Ivoire by refusing to quit after losing the election.

Quattara thanked Jonathan for showing him friendship and support during his difficult years.

He said: "I came here on a visit to see my friend and brother and to congratulate the Nigerian people on the conduct of the presidential election. On May 29, there is going to be inauguration and handover to the president-elect, Buhari. And so, I wanted to tell you our appreciation over the leadership we've received from you during these years.

"You know that about five years ago, Côte d'Ivoire had an election and I won the election, and the former president decided not to leave office. This brought the civil war. Three thousand people were killed, and we were put at the hotel for protection by the United Nations for four-and-a half months. we were there without food because the hotel was guided by the president. It was only after four-and-a-half months of imprisonment in that hotel that finally we were able to leave the hotel after the former president had finally left office for me.

"I am saying this to say that what happened in Nigeria is a lesson to all of us. And please, accept my admiration. I think that avoiding violence, avoiding civil war when we have elections in Africa should be our utmost objective. People are more important than power and Mr President, my good friend, I'm not surprised about what you did, and I want to congratulate you, the Nigerian people and the president-elect. This election in Nigeria is a legacy for the African countries, and I think we owe you a lot in ECOWAS.

"I'd like to also say that for two years I was chairman of ECOWAS after yourself. We had to deal with very difficult issues like the wars in Mali, the terrorist implementation in Northern Nigeria, the problem in Guinea Bissau, the problems in Togo. You're always present. For us, you're a West African before being a Nigerian, and we thank you for what you did for West Africa. And we're together to set up the partnership agreement with the European Union and only West Africa has been able to do this".