..Zinsou concedes defeat

Businessman Patrice Talon won the second round of Benin's presidential election on Sunday, his adversary and incumbent Prime Minister Lionel Zinsou told AFP before the release of official results.

"The provisional results point to a decisive victory for Patrice Talon," Zinsou told AFP by telephone. "The difference is significant, (Talon's) electorial victory is certain.

"I have called Patrice Talon this evening to congratulate him on his victory, wish him good luck and put myself at his disposal to prepare for the handover."

Some 4.7 million people were eligible to cast their ballots in the vote to elect a successor to Benin's outgoing President Thomas Boni Yayi.

He is bowing out after serving a maximum two five-year terms, marking him out from many African leaders who have tried to change their country's constitution to stay in power.

Benin's electoral commission is expected to announce provisional results at some time on Monday, Zinsou said.

The 61-year-old came out top in the first round of elections held on March 6 with 27.1 percent of the vote, compared to 23.5 percent for Talon.
The prime minister, who was a candidate for Boni Yayi's Cowry Forces for an Emerging Benin (FCBE), was seen as the frontrunner with the support of most lawmakers in parliament.

But Talon, a 57-year-old entrepreneur who made his money in cotton and running Cotonou's port, billed himself as the authentic Beninese candidate and repeatedly attacked his opponent's dual French nationality.

Zinsou, who attended an elite French university and was a speechwriter for the former prime minister Laurent Fabius, has been called a "yovo" or "the white man" during the campaign.

He also took a knock when 24 of the 32 other candidates who stood in the first round came out in support of the businessman, including third-placed Sebastien Ajavon, who won 22 percent of votes.

- 'World's laughing stock' -

On Thursday, the two candidates took part in Benin's first-ever presidential debate in which Zinsou ran through his key manifesto pledges to cut poverty, and improve power supplies and healthcare.

But Talon harped on the record of Boni Yayi, whom he said had created "a banana republic" that had become "the laughing stock of the world", as well as questioning Zinsou's knowledge of Benin.

He also launched a string of personal attacks against Zinsou, accusing him of acting like "a governor in a land of savages".

Talon had portrayed himself as a big-spender and a self-made man in his campaign, turning up for the first-round vote in a Porsche, white open-necked shirt, a fitted suit and sun-glasses.

From humble beginnings in the coastal town of Ouidah, he rose to become one of the most powerful men in Beninese business and bankrolled Boni Yayi's successful 2006 and 2011 presidential campaigns.
But he fled to exile in France after being accused of masterminding an alleged plot to poison the president in 2012, and only returned last October after receiving a presidential pardon.

His success and taste for luxury have attracted support from many young Beninese, who hope he can create jobs and wealth on a national scale.

His major challenges will be tackling high youth unemployment, corruption and improving health and education in the country of 10.6 million people.
Diversifying an economy that largely relies on agriculture, trade and exports with its neighbour to the east, Nigeria, will also be high on the agenda.


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/03/opposition-candidatetalon-wins-benin-presidential-race/

Change baa? Unu go Chi chomchin


Change can be positive or negative - Lai Mohammed

eeh...nice

Congrats

Okay, congrats to him.

Buhari setting the pace for others to follow.

Great...

Okorocha did same...he provided millions of jobs. they must have learnt from him

So we're waiting for Dangote, Otedola, Adenuga, Funso Alakiha to follow suite

Advantage PDP in 2019...

and the incumbent president conceded defeat by emulating and following GEJ's examples.

GEJ is not only a National hero, but a World Hero.

PLEASE HOPE HE DIDN'T PROMISE YOU GUYS THINGS IMPOSSIBLE LIKE
MAKING YOU CURRENCY EQUAL 1$
PAYING UNEMPLOYED YOUTH WHEN THEY HAVE NO DATA BASE TO THAT EFFECT
LEARN FROM YOUR BROTHER HERE O.
I WISH UNA ALL D BEST.

Guess Africans are becoming Wiser to know What the People Want Except for Naija Which Is Just Opposite.

Son Excellence Patrice Talon, Président de la République du Bénin.

GEJ had laid a good example to the rest of African leaders.

Following Dr. Goodluck Jonathan's legacy.

Congrats to him.This is the season of oppositions

He is bowing out after serving a maximum two five-year terms, marking him out from many African leaders who have tried to change their country's constitution to stay in power.

Lol..



When People say Jonathan set the legacy for handing over after staying his tenure in office, I have to wonder what happened in Ghana all those years when Jerry Rawlings handed over to John Kuffour and what happened when Kuffour handed over to Atta Mills and when Atta Mills handed over to John Dramani Mahama.

seems its time for oppositions to win elections...that though is dependent on the incumbent to accede to defeat magnanimously...


what i just said does not apply to rivers state...

An african francophone country where the tendency us usually for sitting presidents to stay for life and pass power to their offspring? Think Zaïre, Gabon, Cameroon, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Togo and so on. To concede defeat just like that? These indeed are interesting times. It's a new dawn in Africa. Following GEJ's lead on the continent.

GEJ is a pacesetter... But I pray say una change no go be like our change

opposition ti take over

Congratulations to him. Hope he will stablise that their currency that looks like a bread label

Thank you Jonathan for belling the cat. Thank you for your sacrifice. Thank you for making other African leaders know that obeying the will of the people is not a sign of weakness.
I wish Buhari would learn from this and subsequently whisper it to Amaechi's ears.

Gej made it . africa enjoying it. Legacy