Former President Goodluck Jonathan emphasized that Nigeria’s recent peaceful transfer of power positions the country to lead in Africa’s democratic leadership. He stressed the importance of moving forward after the elections, focusing on collaboration between past and present leaders and the electorate to shape a better future for the nation. Jonathan, who has been actively involved in regional dialogues promoting peace and diplomacy in West Africa and across the continent, mentioned plans to visit Kenya and Liberia in the near future. His meeting with President Bola Tinubu centered on the nation’s progress and the role Nigeria can play in African leadership. Jonathan also discussed the tradition of former presidents briefing the current president on their foreign programs, highlighting the need for unity among Nigeria’s political leaders and the avoidance of political tension for the sake of national progress. Jonathan’s visit to the State House continues his work as a Special Envoy for the Economic Community of West African States, particularly in mediating talks related to Mali’s transition to civilian rule. In September 2023, Mali announced a delay in the presidential election scheduled for February 2024 due to technical reasons, the adoption of a new constitution, and a dispute with a French company involved in the census process. The ECOWAS had previously imposed sanctions on Mali to press for a timely election, but these were lifted in July 2022 when the junta pledged to hold the election in February 2024.
