President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the President-elect of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, on his victory in the presidential election of August 12, 2021.
Buhari’s congratulatory message was contained in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, titled ‘President Buhari congratulates President-elect of Zambia’.
In the statement, the President applauded the people of Zambia who came out en masse to exercise their civic rights, voting candidates of their choice, signposting that the prospect of a united, stable and prosperous Africa lies in the power of the people to freely elect their leaders.
He commended President Edgar Lungu for accepting the outcome of the election and a peaceful transfer of power, noting that this patriotic disposition deserves the praise of all lovers of democracy.
Highlighting the close and historic relationship between Nigeria and Zambia, the President expressed willingness to work closely with the Zambian President-elect for the peace, development and prosperity of both nations.
Also, former Nigerian President, who is also the former Chairman of the African Union, Olusegun Obasanjo, on Monday, congratulated Hakainde Hichilema.
Obasanjo commended the people of the country for keeping democracy alive, disclosing that the reports reaching him of the election were satisfactory.
The former president congratulated the new President, urging Hichilema to be magnanimous in victory.
He said, “I want to congratulate the newly elected President, Mr. Hakainde Hichilema for his victory and also I want to congratulate the outgoing President for working hard to maintain the tenets of democracy by conceding, when result is cleared that Hichilema won.
“I also congratulate the people of Zambia for keeping democracy alive. I appeal to the new President to be magnanimous in victory and the people of Zambia should maintain the dignity and peace which we are all noted for in Africa.
“Zambia must break the circle of previous President being disgraced, by inhumanly treated by succeeding President,” he said in a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, on Monday.