Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Julius Maada Bio on his victory as the new President of Sierra Leone after the presidential election run-off of March 31.
Oposition candidate, Julius Maada Bio won a narrow victory in a run-off election to become Sierra Leone’s president.
Buhari hailed the people of Sierra Leone on the successful conduct of the presidential election run-off as well as the parliamentary and local council elections held on March 7, 2018.
Buhari’s spokesman, Femi Adesina, in a statement on Thursday, said, “With the elections concluded and following the trend of recently held peaceful elections in West Africa, President Buhari urges all stakeholders in Sierra Leone to work together for the peace, security and development of the country.
“He enjoins all those with grievances over the outcome of the elections to seek constitutional means of resolving them, stressing that nothing should be done to endanger the peace and stability of the country in particular and the sub-region in general.
“The Nigerian leader salutes the resilient spirit of Sierra Leoneans, who have clearly demonstrated their ability to manage their own affairs and consolidate on the country’s progress after a post-conflict era.
“The President also commends the immediate past president, Ernest Bai Koroma, for his commitment to a credible electoral process and spirited efforts at bringing stability and positive changes to the nation during his presidency.
“President Buhari looks forward to working with President Bio for the growth, prosperity and stability of their nations, and West Africa.”
Julius Maada Bio, 53, has tasted the presidency before, having served as a military Head of State for about three months. He led the National Provisional Ruling Council (NPRC) military junta government that lasted from January 16 to March 29 1996.
He toppled his boss in the NPRC junta, Captain Valentine Strasser in January 1996 but handed over to democratically elected Ahmed Tejan Kabbah of the SLPP after the 1996 presidential elections.
He later retired from active service that year and moved to the United States to further his studies. He earned a Masters Degree in International Affairs from the American University in Washington DC.
He returned from the U.S. to join the SLPP in 2005. (Photo: Reuters)