Be responsive to your People, Jonathan Tells Mugabe

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday urged President Robert Mugabe to take advantage of his victory in last week’s presidential elections in Zimbabwe to rededicate himself to working for the well-being and progress of all Zimbabweans.


Mugabe had won the presidential poll as announced by the country’s electoral commission at the weekend.
In statement by presidential spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, Jonathan “urged Mugabe to ensure that all persons and parties who oppose the conduct of the polls and the announced results are given every opportunity to seek lawful redress as allowed by the country’s electoral laws and constitution.

“He welcomes the decision of the main opposition leader, Mr. Morgan Tsvangirai to avail himself of these avenues of peaceful and legal redress instead of resorting to unlawful actions that could lead Zimbabwe down the road of political instability again”, he added.

Meanwhile, President Jonathan yesterday in Abuja welcomed significantly improved trade and economic relations between Nigeria and Canada which has seen the volume of annual bilateral trade between them rise from about $600 Million three years ago to over $2 Billion at present.

Speaking at an audience with the outgoing Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Chris Cooter, Jonathan also welcomed the strengthening of bilateral cooperation between the two countries in other areas such as education, electoral reform and polio eradication.