Elections in 2023: Departing Rwandan High Commissioner: “I’m Glad For Nigeria”
At the end of his diplomatic tour, he paid Buhari a visit at the State House in Abuja.
According to the Presidency, Stanislas Kamanzi, the departing High Commissioner for Rwanda, expressed his happiness for Nigeria at the results of the elections.
The “successful conclusion” of the 2023 elections, according to Kamanzi, is proof that African countries can peacefully “manage their fate.”
According to a statement released on Saturday by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, he also expressed his happiness for Nigeria and thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for taking the helm.
The statement also revealed that Kamanzi visited Buhari at the State House in Abuja to celebrate the end of his diplomatic term.
He was cited as adding that after an eight-year term, he is returning to his own country with a strong feeling of accomplishment, “having registered assurances that Nigeria is a friendly nation,” and with the full expectation that his successor will continue the job he has started here.
Speaking on a variety of topics including the “significant progress” achieved in the Nigeria-Rwanda relationship over the previous eight years, Buhari complimented the departing ambassador on what was characterised as his extremely successful tour of duty.
See the full statement below:
STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE
OUTGOING HIGH COMMISSIONER OF RWANDA SAYS NIGERIAN ELECTION REASSURES AFRICA
Outgoing Rwandan High Commissioner says the successful completion of the 2023 elections by Nigeria is an affirmation of the fact that African nations can handle their destiny in a very peaceful way, adding, “I am happy for Nigeria.”
The High Commissioner, Stanislas Kamanzi, who called on the President in State House, Abuja, on the occasion of the completion of his diplomatic mission said he is happy for Nigeria for the way the elections went, at the same time congratulating President Muhammadu Buhari for being at the helm.
He said he is going back to his country with a high sense of fulfillment after his eight-year tenure, “having registered assurances that Nigeria is a friendly country” and in the full expectation that his successor will build on his work here.
President Buhari congratulated the outgoing diplomat on his very successful tour of duty and spoke about a range of issues and the substantial progress made in the Nigeria-Rwanda relationship over the past eight years.
The President and the High Commissioner discussed bilateral accomplishments in the area of aviation, with Rwanda Airline operating eight weekly flights to Lagos and five to Abuja and the progress towards a Nigeria-Rwanda Joint Commission which has been signed and soon to be inaugurated.
President Buhari noted the uncommon coincidence of the High Commissioner and himself coming in eight years ago and leaving at about the same time.
“You saw us come in and you are about to see us leaving. When we came, the Northeast was a big problem. The lake Chad was much affected by climate change and the neighboring regions were experiencing a turbulence,” he said, adding that he was pleased with the progress made in normalizing the situation in the area especially at this time when, according to him, “there is a very active governor” in Borno State.
The outgoing High Commissioner thanked Nigerian government officials for creating a true spirit of mutual cooperation, without any artificial barriers that enabled him to make a success of his duty tour in Nigeria.
Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
April 8, 2023
