15th May, 2015
President Boni Yayi of Benin Republic, on Thursday said past experiences of president-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, would be useful during his administration.
Yayi stated this while briefing newsmen after visited Buhari at the Defence House in Abuja.
Describing the president-elect as his ‘senior’, he said Nigeria and Benin had similar culture, practices, language, adding that Benin was part of Nigeria.
He said, ”Benin is the 37th state of Nigeria, and Nigeria is the 7th department of Benin; 55 per cent of Benin population come from Nigeria; you know I am at home here.
“So I am here because my brothers and sisters of Nigeria have recently chosen my senior, Buhari, as the president in order to better their destiny.
“Buhari is well known to people because of his integrity, his experience as a former head of state of the great Nigeria.
“We look up to Buhari’s ability to take up challenges as Nigeria’s president in the sub-region.
“Today, Boko Haram is an issue, peace an issue, the enforcement of ECOWAS an issue, but we see Nigeria’s economy as the engine of the sub-region economy.”
He prayed for the president-elect’s success in administering the country and assured of his country’s support.
“May Almighty Allah let your presidency and mandate be successful for not only Nigeria, the good people of Nigeria, but also for our sub-region, our continent and our world.
“Benin will always be by the side of great Nigeria and will support the great Nigeria, after his inauguration.
“So I want to thank him, my senior, the president-elect, God will bless him; God will bless the great Nigeria and our sub-region.”