Kufuor counsels Nigeria to calm down

President Kufuor has asked all sides in the disputed Nigerian elections to accept the constitutional process as the only means of resolving issues related to the electoral process.

A release signed by Mr Andrew Awuni, Press Secretary to the President, said President Kufuor appreciated the difficulties and complexities associated with the entrenchment of democracy in Nigeria.

President Kufuor who is the chairman of the African Union asked that all parties respect the legal procedures for dealing with their complaints.

"In the transition, all parties committed to upholding the integrity of the greater nation should respect the legal procedures for dealing with whatever complaints they may have," stated President Kufuor.

President Kufuor is due in Lagos, Nigeria on Friday to join other heads of state in the sub-region to inaugurate a facility of the West African Gas Pipeline project.

Ghana is a shareholder in the project having paid some 90 million dollars as equity and is eagerly awaiting gas from the project to solve some of the country's energy problems.

The statement said the visit will afford President Kufuor the opportunity to get a first hand feel of the situation of Nigeria and will continue consultations with his colleagues heads of state on the Nigerian situation.

The opposition parties in Nigeria have denounced the elections under which candidates of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) swept all the polls, including the Presidential race.