Jonathan set precedent that makes Nigerians proud globally —Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday in Abuja
applauded former President Goodluck Jonathan for his
statesmanship in conceding defeat in the March 28
presidential election.
Buhari gave the commendation in his inaugural speech
during his swearing-in as President of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria.

He said that Jonathan had set a precedent that would
make Nigerians proud globally.
“I would like to thank President Goodluck Jonathan
for his display of statesmanship in setting a precedent
for us that has now made our people proud to be
Nigerians wherever they are.

“I hope this act of graciously accepting defeat by the
outgoing President will become the standard of political
conduct in the country’’, he said.

The President noted that with the support and
cooperation given to the transition process by Jonathan,
the country would be united to surprise the world.
He stressed that his administration would not interfere
with the functions of the legislature and judiciary.

“The Federal Executive under my watch will not seek
to encroach on the duties and functions of the legislative
and judicial arms of government.
“To achieve our objectives, we must consciously work
the democratic system’’, he said.
Buhari maintained that under his administration, law
enforcement agencies would operate within the confines
of the Constitution.

He said that the legislative arm must keep to their
constitutional mandate of lawmaking and oversight
functions.

The President said the country now expects the
judiciary to act with dispatch on all cases especially on
corruption, serious financial crimes or abuse of office.

“It is only when the three arms act constitutionally that
government will be enabled to serve the country
optimally and avoid the confusion all too often bedeviling
governance today’’, he said.