Former President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan is reinforcing his status as an icon of democracy in Africa.
Dr. Jonathan, who is leading the African Union Elections Observation Mission to Zambia, took to micro-blogging website, Twitter on Monday, August 8, 2016 to leave a golden quote on democratic values on the continent.
“If Africa can’t yet send men to the moon, we should at least organize elections that are free and fair of which the whole world will be proud,” he wrote.
If Africa can't yet send men to the moon we should at least organize elections that are free and fair of which the whole World will be proud
— Goodluck E. Jonathan (@GEJonathan) August 8, 2016
Zambia hold its presidential and parliamentary elections on Thursday.
President Jonathan has been sharing his experience as the leader of the AU election observers, including photos of his work meeting political leaders in the south African country.
“As they (are) ready to deploy to the field I charged my observers to uphold the hopes and aspirations of Zambians,” Jonathan captioned a set of photos.
As they ready to deploy to the field I charged charge my observers to uphold the hopes and aspirations of Zambians pic.twitter.com/yDw58FEbJ2
— Goodluck E. Jonathan (@GEJonathan) August 8, 2016
Final coordination meeting with other missions present in Zambia to ensure an equitable electoral process pic.twitter.com/Tm6LGY9ykH
— Goodluck E. Jonathan (@GEJonathan) August 9, 2016
During his trip, the former Nigerian president has met with the legendary former president of Zambia, Kenneth Kaunda. He described the elder statesman as “one of Africa’s inspiring leaders”.
Jonathan visited with members of the Zambian parliament and deputy inspector general of the Zambian police force to discuss reports of abuse by members of the police.
Visited the Zambian Parliament; discussed with Speaker and staff the contributions of MPs to strengthening democracy pic.twitter.com/xseulhtma9
— Goodluck E. Jonathan (@GEJonathan) August 9, 2016
The Zambian security forces will play a vital role in this process by ensuring the safety of all citizens during and after the elections
— Goodluck E. Jonathan (@GEJonathan) August 9, 2016
Meeting with the Dep. IG of Police to discuss allegations of abuses of Public Order Act by members of the force pic.twitter.com/Rar7drwzyi
— Goodluck E. Jonathan (@GEJonathan) August 9, 2016
He also met with leaders of Zambia’s electoral commission and the two main candidates in the upcoming elections, the incumbent, Edgar Lungu of the ruling Patriotic Front, and the Hakainde Hichilema of the United Party for National Development.
Just met with incumbent President and candidate HE Lungu who reassured me that whatever the outcome he will accept pic.twitter.com/QpFgi1wH8m
— Goodluck E. Jonathan (@GEJonathan) August 9, 2016
Meeting with Mr. Felix Mutati of MMD party this morning, I urge all Zambians to reaffirm their peaceful dispositions pic.twitter.com/QAP9P5eIQX
— Goodluck E. Jonathan (@GEJonathan) August 9, 2016
Both Mr. Lungu and Mr. Hichilema had contested in an early election in January 2015, following the death of the then President Michael Sata. Mr. Lungu won by a narrow margin.
This assignment is Dr. Jonathan’s 2nd high profile election monitoring assignment since he peacefully handed over power to his successor, General Muhammadu Buhari in May 2015. The first was in Tanzania where he was the leader of the Commonwealth election observer team.
