Leadership, Allafrica
The Ivorien political crisis has claimed two innocent Nigerians. Many others have been displaced, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted Nigeria Embassy in Cote d'Ivoire as saying yesterday.
Leadership gathered that the affected persons were victims of the political battle between the forces loyal to the legitimately elected Ivorien president, Alassane Quattara, and that of Laurent Gbagbo.
Meanwhile, ECOWAS chairman and Nigeria's president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, has said that the position of the Community on Cote d'Ivoire's political impasse still stands.
ECOWAS had, at its last emergency meeting in Abuja, resolved to oust the former president of Cote d'Ivoire, Laurent Gbagbo, by legitimate force if he failed to yield power peacefully.
Jonathan restated the position of the regional economic bloc at a meeting with the African Union envoy on Cote d'Ivoire, Prime Minister Raila Odinga of Kenya, at the State House, on Sunday night.
A statement on the closed-door meeting between Jonathan and Odinga was made available to State House correspondents yesterday.
The statement, signed by the special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Mr Ima Niboro, said that ECOWAS would be happy to peacefully resolve the impasse in that country.
"We have not changed the position we took during our last summit.
"We would continue to consult with leaders of the sub-region on the issue," Jonathan said, and reiterated the need for all stakeholders to allow votes to count in all elections.
"The votes of citizens must count after they are cast or democracy will not take hold on the continent," Jonathan said.
Niboro said Odinga had briefed Jonathan about his various efforts to find a solution to the impasse, including consultations with former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
A presidential election was held in two rounds in Cote D'Ivoire with the first round held on Oct. 31 and the second round between Gbagbo and then opposition leader Alassane Ouattara on Nov. 28.
The Independent Electoral Commission on Dec. 2 released provisional results showing that Ouattara won the election in the second round with 54 per cent of the votes.
The country's Constitutional Council, however, declared that the results were invalid and announced Gbagbo as the winner.
Gbagbo has refused to cede power even with the members of the international community, including the AU, ECOWAS, UN and the U.S., insisting that Ouattara won.
The situation has led to a political stalemate, where two presidents are claiming legitimacy of the leadership of the country.
Post-election violence has erupted in the country and hundreds of people are believed to have died so far from the crisis, while many Ivoriens have fled to neighbouring countries. NAN
May their souls RIP, when will African leaders start accepting defeat in elections?
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