By Nneka Nwogwugwu
Some world leaders have reacted negatively to the violence displayed at the U.S. Capitol, where lawmakers were due to certify president-elect Joe Biden’s win in the November election.
Masses of angry pro-Trump protesters had clashed with police on Wednesday, January 6.
The British Prime Minister Boris Johnson joined other leaders in condemning the scenes of violence in the United States (U.S.)
He described it as “Disgraceful scenes in U.S. Congress.’’
He said, “The United States stands for democracy around the world and it is now vital that there should be a peaceful and orderly transfer of power,” he wrote on Twitter.
Scotland’s First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, called the events “utterly horrifying.”
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday, January 7 that she was “furious and saddened” by the storming of the US Capitol by supporters of Donald Trump and said the president shared blame for the unrest.
“I deeply regret that President Trump has not conceded his defeat, since November and again yesterday,” she said.
“Doubts about the election outcome were stoked and created the atmosphere that made the events of last night possible,” she said, adding that her shock was certainly shared by the “millions of people who admire America’s democratic tradition.”
Also, Former President Goodluck Jonathan told Trump that his ambition is not worth the blood of any American citizen.
Reacting on his Facebook page, Jonathan, who conceded to President Muhammadu Buhari even before Buhari was declared winner of the 2015 presidential election, condemned gaining power at the expense of peace.
“I have repeatedly said nobody’s political ambition is worth the blood of any citizen, in any part of the world. Absolutely nobody,” he said.
“Again, I reiterate that it is better to lose power at the cost of gaining peace, than to gain power at the price of losing the peace. As a leader, one must not just look unto one’s own interest, but the interest and the good of society. It is never too late to reject the venom and inject the serum of peace.
“It is necessary to state that the highest purpose of leadership is to bring people together, even those that do not share in your philosophy. And you do not need an office to do that.”
