PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday in Abuja commended the United States Government for its support in stabilizing the Nigerian polity.
Jonathan made the commendation when he received the U.S Secretary of State, Mrs Hillary Clinton, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
According to him, the Obama administration has been passionate and supportive of the Nigerian Government in the past five years.
“And of course President Obama’s administration is also quite passionate about Africa and Nigeria.
“He has always been very supportive of us in the past five years.
“From the days I came in as Vice President, especially that period as a nation when we faced a lot of challenges, when the late president was very ill and we passed through turbulent period.
“The support given to us is one that stabilised this country, and when we insisted we must conduct an election that is free and fair as the only way we can stabilise democracy, they were very supportive.”
He noted with delight that the support offered to INEC by the American Government had led to the conduct of an election adjudged by both local and international observers as the best election so far conducted in the country.
The president also commended the secretary of state for her support and assistance to Nigeria since she assumed office.
“Within this period of being secretary of state, she has raised the relationship between Nigeria and America to a very high level that we had never reached for quite some time.
“This, she did by personally chairing the bi-national commission and we have discussed various issues, security, economy and so on and so forth. She has been very, very supportive.
“So let me on behalf of the government and good people of Nigeria really thank you and President Obama and the good people of America for your support for Nigeria and Africa.
“I also want to thank you for all you are doing to make sure that this part of the globe develops.”
In her remark, Clinton promised that the American Government would continue to partner with Nigeria to uplift the standard of living of Nigerians.
“We appreciate that you know how committed the United States and the Obama administration is to our partnership with your country.
“We consider it absolutely vital to our bi-national commission, which as you have mentioned, has helped us to expand and deepen our cooperation on issues.
“We are working on economic matters, the improvement of productivity in agriculture, education and health, security, diversification of your economy and so much more.
“We intend to remain very supportive of your reform efforts.
“Thank you for mentioning the work we did together on the election. We were also very supportive of your anti-corruption reform efforts.’’
Clinton noted that Nigeria’s future was limitless, adding that the most important task was to make sure that there were better opportunities for all Nigerians to fulfill their God-given potentials.
“We want to work with you and we will be by your side as you make the reforms and take the tough decisions that are necessary,” she said.
President Jonathan and Security Chiefs had earlier held a closed-door meeting which lasted for more than two hours with Clinton who was on a one-day visit to Nigeria.