Mukherjee congratulates Nigerian counterpart Buhari on assumption of office

President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday congratulated his Nigerian counterpart Major General (retired) Muhammadu Buhari on the assumption of office after winning the recently-held elections in the African nation.

"On behalf of the Government and the people of India and on my own behalf, it gives me great pleasure to convey to you warm greetings and hearty congratulations as you assume the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Your success in the Presidential elections held in March this year is testimony to the endorsement, by the people of Nigeria, of your vision for a new era of peace, progress and stability in your country," the President's message read.

"India and Nigeria have a time-tested and robust bilateral partnership which has been cemented by our shared history of struggle against colonialism and apartheid. We look forward to working closely with you to further deepen the multi-faceted partnership between our two countries," it added.

President Buhari, who was the first opposition candidate to win an election since Nigeria's independence in 1960, defeated the sitting president Goodluck Jonathan. This election marked the first peaceful

transfer of power between the civilian leaders in Nigerian history.