Former South African president, Thabo Mbeki, has revealed details of his separate private meetings with the presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), President Goodluck Jonathan, and the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd).
Speaking exclusively with the Nigerian Tribune on Tuesday night, at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, before his departure to Johannesburg, South Africa, Mbeki disclosed that the forthcoming elections were discussed with the two leading candidates, with emphasis on the need for the process to be devoid of crisis.
He noted that he was satisfied with both candidates, as they gave him firm commitment to accepting the results of the elections, particularly the presidential poll.
When asked if a direct commitment was given on the outcome of the election, he said “absolutely.”
He also met with the national leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu same Tuesday evening, before he left for the airport.
Mbeki also mentioned the anxiety created by Nigerian press reporting of the pre-election process, which necessitated his decision to meet the leaders involved in the electoral process.
He said: “when I followed the Nigerian press from outside the country; reading on the internet, one gets worrying feeling that things could go wrong and that is why it was important for me to talk to the actual leaders and not just read what is in the media. At least now, I am really, really reassured.”
He also stated that he called for peace, before, during and after the elections, adding that all parties were made to realise that in every election, there must be a winner and a loser.
He added that both Jonathan and Buhari agreed that the loser of the election must accept the outcome.
Meanwhile, the African Union has demanded that President Goodluck Jonathan and other African Leaders should openly declare their assets and subject their wealth to public scrutiny.
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