Anyaoku, others bid Jonathan farewell

A former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, on Tuesday led members of the Presidential Advisory Council on International Relations to bid President Goodluck Jonathan farewell.

Anyaoku is the chairman of the council.

He and his members joined Jonathan for a breakfast at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

In a short interview with journalists after the session, Anyaoku described the meeting as a valedictory one, saying that was the last time his committee members would be meeting with Jonathan as the President of the country.

He said they used the opportunity of the meeting to commend the President for conceding victory in the March 28 presidential election even before the final results were released by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

He said the country owed Jonathan a huge debt of gratitude for not only conceding victory but also for delivering credible elections.

Anyaoku noted that the President’s gesture earned Nigeria, admiration and respect globally.

He said, “We had an excellent valedictory meeting. It was the last for our council, it was the last time we are meeting with the outgoing President.

“We told him that our nation Nigeria owes him a huge debt of gratitude for what he has done in terms of the success of the elections and above all in terms of the gesture of picking up the telephone and congratulating the President-elect even before the final results of the elections were announced.

“That singular act has earned our country a great deal of admiration and respect abroad.

“We thanked him and congratulated him and wished him well in his future endeavour.”