NAIROBI: PRIME MINISTER RAILA ODINGA RETURNS FROM IVORY COAST

Mon, May 23, 2011 12:21:54 PM

Odinga/ Swearing in

Ivorians spared their loudest cheers for two leaders; Prime Minister Raila Odinga and President of France Mr Nicholas Sarkozy, as the country welcomed its new President Mr Alassane Ouattara on Saturday.
Crowds at the inauguration ceremony in Yamoussoukro went wild when Ouattara singled out President Sarkozy for helping end the leadership crisis that gripped the country after the elections. Sarkozy’s cheers were only matched by those for Mr Odinga, whose invitation to the stage for a handshake with Mr Ouattara equally sent the crowd wild.
Reactions reflected the determination by Ouattara’s supporters to remember those who played a leading role in pushing Gbagbo out. The reactions were also seen as a reflection of the divide that remains in the country.
The Crowd at the swearing in ceremony had an equally strong acknowledgement for UN Secretary General Mr Ban Ki Moon, who was at the event.
Ban had maintained a strong military force in the country and, like Mr Odinga and Mr Sarkozy, took an unequivocal stand that Mr Gbagbo had lost elections and must surrender power.
Ivorians said they have fond memories of Mr Odinga as the one who told the deposed former President Mr Laurent Gbagbo “the truth.” In broken English, they generally refer to Mr Odinga as “ must go”, recalling the PM’s warning’s to Mr Gbabgbo that time was running out for him to hand over power.
Raila joined more than 20 other heads of state and government and more than 100,000 Ivorians, for the swearing-in of Mr Ouattara in Yamoussoukro, the country’s administrative capital.
A French-led military intervention ended a standoff between Ouattara and former president Laurent Gbagbo, who had refused to hand over power after losing last November's election.
Mr Odinga led negotiations for a peaceful resolution to the stand-off, which Mr Gbagbo rejected.
However, section of Ivorians said they remember Mr Odinga as the leader who delivered the message to Gbagbo and set the stage for his eventual eviction.
They recalled that other leaders came and left without stating openly what they had told the then incumbent who had declined to concede defeat.
Mr Odinga left for Ivory Coast on Friday and was received on arrival in Yamoussoukro by Prime Minister Mr Guillaume Soro.
Although he pushed for Mr Gbagbo’s exit, Mr Odinga has lately called for a humane treatment of the deposed leader in the interest of unity in Ivory Coast.
Mr Odinga returned to Nairobi last night.
Ends