Ahead of former President Goodluck Jonathan arrival to Dar es Salaam as leader of the Commonwealth international observers to monitor the Tanzanian general elections scheduled for October 25, citizens of that country are anxious to have the former Nigerian leader who they described as ‘a hero of free and fair election in Africa’.
Reports coming from the country indicate that the people of Tanzania are delighted that Jonathan would be on ground leading the Commonwealth election monitoring team. This is as a result of the ex-President’s exemplary feat of conceding defeat even before the end of the electoral process and subsequently handing over power to the opposition party. Jonathan will be leaving Nigeria for the East African country on Monday.
It was gathered that Tanzanians are optimistic that his presence alongside other observers would bring credibility to the elections believed to be the toughest and closest elections in the country’s history. Like Nigeria’s March 28polls, the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi, CCM, party, which has been in power since Tanzania’s return to multiparty democracy in 1992 is being challenged by a united opposition that has increasingly been making significant electoral gains.
The Guardian of Tanzania in its editorial themed ‘High profile figures among observers will add credibility to poll process, results’, poured encomiums on the former Nigerian president, describing him as a democrat who has pointed the way forward for the rest of Africa.
The Guardian further wrote that “Jonathan’s voluntary handover of power to the opposition wrote a new chapter for Nigeria’s democracy and Africa, given the fact that it is rare for sitting presidents in Africa to hand over powers to winning opposition parties.”
In the course of his trip to Tanzania, Jonathan is scheduled to meet with the country’s president, Jakaya Kikwete, other heads of delegation as well as the local and international media.
-National Accord
Reports coming from the country indicate that the people of Tanzania are delighted that Jonathan would be on ground leading the Commonwealth election monitoring team. This is as a result of the ex-President’s exemplary feat of conceding defeat even before the end of the electoral process and subsequently handing over power to the opposition party. Jonathan will be leaving Nigeria for the East African country on Monday.
It was gathered that Tanzanians are optimistic that his presence alongside other observers would bring credibility to the elections believed to be the toughest and closest elections in the country’s history. Like Nigeria’s March 28polls, the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi, CCM, party, which has been in power since Tanzania’s return to multiparty democracy in 1992 is being challenged by a united opposition that has increasingly been making significant electoral gains.
The Guardian of Tanzania in its editorial themed ‘High profile figures among observers will add credibility to poll process, results’, poured encomiums on the former Nigerian president, describing him as a democrat who has pointed the way forward for the rest of Africa.
The Guardian further wrote that “Jonathan’s voluntary handover of power to the opposition wrote a new chapter for Nigeria’s democracy and Africa, given the fact that it is rare for sitting presidents in Africa to hand over powers to winning opposition parties.”
In the course of his trip to Tanzania, Jonathan is scheduled to meet with the country’s president, Jakaya Kikwete, other heads of delegation as well as the local and international media.
-National Accord
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