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By Nasir Kura
President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the newly elected President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on his victory and inauguration.
The President commended the government and people of DRC for their determination and commitment to democratic principles, which resulted in the first peaceful transfer of democratic power since independence in 1960.
The Nigerian leader and ECOWAS chairman, also commended the Congolese people for peacefully exercising their franchise during the national elections in the country.
Following the affirmation of President Tshisekedi’s victory at the December 30, 2018 polls by the Constitutional Court of the country, the President urged all Congolese, especially political stakeholders to rally behind the new leader and support his vision to build ‘‘a modern, peaceful, democratic State for every citizen,’’ as succinctly expressed in his inauguration speech on Thursday.
Recognising the important role played by former President Joseph Kabila in the historic electoral process and transition, the President assured the new Congolese leader of Nigeria’s readiness to work with his government to consolidate peace, stability, reconciliation and development in the Central African country.
