FROM Nigerian leaders came words of commendations for the newly inaugurated President of Ghana, Mr. John Dramani Mahama, as they urged him to render more services to his country.
Those who made the call included the Speaker of the Parliament, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS Parliament), Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State and ex-governor of Lagos State, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Mahama was sworn into office yesterday following his victory in the December 2012 Presidential election. Fayemi, in his goodwill message, expressed the readiness of his administration to ensure closer political, social and economic ties with Ghana.
Fayemi, who, together with President Goodluck Jonathan, Governor Rotimi Amaechi, his Ogun State counterpart, Ibikunle Amosun, Tinubu, and the National Chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Chief Bisi Akande, joined other world leaders to grace the inauguration in Accra, said the government and people of Ekiti State were proud to associate with Mahama, who holds a honorary doctorate degree from the Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti.
The governor expressed confidence that Ghana would witness unprecedented peace, growth and development as Mahama begins his full term of office as president of the country.
He prayed God to grant him the grace and wisdom to discharge the functions of his office to the benefit of all Ghanaians.
Ekweremadu, who is the Deputy Senate President, made the call in a goodwill message to the President and people of Ghana on the occasion of the Mahama's inauguration. He added: "You have a divine opportunity to be a statesman and true leader to all Ghanaians irrespective of political and other leanings.
"It is an opportunity to carve a niche for yourself in the annals of this great republic in the footsteps of your illustrious predecessors and great sons and daughters of Ghana, who left indelible marks in the struggles for liberty, democracy, peace and development in the entire black race.
"History, therefore, beacons on you to consolidate democratic values and rally your great countrymen and women on the path of unity and prosperity."
Ekweremadu urged the President to take another look at the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre and Foreign Investment Act 1994, as well as the recurring issues arising from it, with a view to ensuring that businesses of all West African nationals are protected in the spirit of integration and relevant ECOWAS Protocols.
In a statement, Tinubu said: "For Ghana, this transition from democracy to democracy marks a sparkling moment in the history of the country. I congratulate the elected President of Ghana, John Mahama, and the good people of Ghana on this occasion. It is a moment in history many nations still long for and Ghana offers that great hope that even in Africa, democracy thrives.
"Nigeria has a thing or two to learn from Ghana with regards to organising free and fair elections. Nigeria's electoral system is overdue for a biometric voting system. Our electoral system needs an overhaul. Ghana has shown the way. Nigeria and other African nations must follow the lead."
