Buhari to ‘spare no effort’ in fighting Boko Haram

ABUJA: Nigeria’s newly-elected President Muhammadu Buhari said on Wednesday his government would “spare no effort” to defeat militant group Boko Haram.
“Boko Haram will soon know the strength of our collective will. We should spare no effort,” Buhari said in his first formal speech since winning the election. “In tackling the insurgency, we have a tough and urgent job to do.”
Buhari hailed his historic election victory after Nigerians broke the cycle of one-party government and military rule with a democratic transfer of power at the ballot box.
The 72-year-old defeated incumbent Goodluck Jonathan by 2.57 million votes in a win described by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon as “testament to the maturity of Nigeria’s democracy.”
Buhari also singled out Jonathan for statesmanship in conceding defeat, which was hailed as an example for the rest of Africa, where leaders have all too often sought to cling to power at any cost.
“Our country has now joined the community of nations that have used the ballot box to peacefully change an incumbent president in a free and fair election,” Buhari said in a speech in Abuja.
“To me this is indeed historic,” the former military ruler-turned-democrat told supporters, adding: “We have put the one-party state behind us.”
State assembly and gubernatorial elections are still due on April 11 before Jonathan’s mandate expires on April 30 and Buhari is sworn in on May 29.
Philip Hammond, foreign minister for Nigeria’s former colonial master Britain, said: “It is now important for both parties to ensure the transition to a new government remains peaceful.”
Buhari’s victory, confirmed in the early hours of Wednesday, came after a gripping contest hit by glitches with new voter technology, claims of irregularities and fears of militancy.
Mass poll-related unrest which has blighted the aftermath of previous votes in Africa’s most populous nation failed to materialize.