|
Liberia
honours Jonathan
Newsdiaryonline Fri July 22,2011
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was Thursday in Monrovia
honoured by the government and people of Liberia with that
country's highest national award.
Conferring the award of "Grand Cordon in the Most Venerable
Order of the Pioneers of the Republic of Liberia,"
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said it was in
appreciation of the outstanding and selfless contributions of
the leaders and people of Nigeria to the restoration of peace
and continued development of Liberia.
"Nigeria was with us in our difficult days even before the
United Nations and your people died for us and today we have
peace and can set development goals," the Liberian President
said shortly before the investiture.
President Sirleaf who commended the leadership qualities of
President Jonathan in the West African sub-region in particular
as ECOWAS Chairman and the African continent in general, also
lauded the current transformation agenda of the Jonathan
Administration.
In his acceptance speech, President Jonathan said "this exalted
honour bestowed on me and by extension, my country Nigeria,
signifies the abiding closeness and friendship existing between
our two countries."
The President noted that the award clearly demonstrated the
desire of Nigeria and Liberia to "collaborate and continue to
work towards deepening those ties that happily bind us
together," stressing that "our common efforts and sacrifices are
borne out of deep commitment to peace and security not only of
our sub-region but Africa and the rest of the world."
President Jonathan assured the Liberian people that "just like
we stood with you during your trying period, so shall we
continue to abide with you at this time of peace-building,
national reconciliation, post conflict reconstruction and
democratic governance."
Nigeria currently has over 1,500 troops participating in the
United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), while a Nigerian
general has been in charge of training the Liberian army for the
past four years.
The bestowal of the honour on President Jonathan was the
commencement of the week-long activities leading to the
celebration of the 164th Independence Anniversary of the
Republic of Liberia on July 26, 2011
|
