The Government of the United States (U.S) has urged Nigerians to value their achievements in growing into a truly democratic country.
The Political Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria, Rolf Olson, gave the advice yesterday while delivering a virtual address at the Hubert Humphrey Fellowship Alumni Association Annual Seminar 2022.
The seminar was themed: Promoting Electoral Integrity in Nigeria: Prospects and Challenges.
In his keynote address, Olsen said Nigeria had made tremendous progress in consolidating its democracy since the return to civil rule in 1999.
He said, “I have been posted to six countries overseas and worked on issues of democracy in many more. You should not take for granted these achievements.
“There are far too many places where the idea of readily transferring authority to an opponent who has vanquished you causes significant resistance at a minimum or is otherwise unthinkable.
“These mileposts that Nigeria has passed are significant ones and Nigerians can and should be proud of what has been achieved, even as you seek to reach the other mileposts that are ahead of you.”
Olson also said the U.S would strongly support INEC to deliver on its mandate of conducting free and fair elections in the country.
