President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday paid a glowing tribute to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, saying he has a strong commitment to Nigeria and Africa.He said that was why he decided to enlist the former President’s assistance to mediate in the political crisis in Guinea Bissau.
A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, quoted the President as speaking during an audience he granted to the President of Guinea Bissau, Mr. Jose Mario Bavz, at the sidelines of the Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Johannesburg, South Africa.“I sent former President Olusegun Obasanjo because he is the only person living or dead that has ruled Nigeria for 11 years. I served under him as a military Head of State. He has a strong commitment to Nigeria and Africa. That was why I looked for him and asked him to collaborate with President Macky Sall of Senegal to stabilise the situation of Guinea Bissau,” Buhari was quoted as saying.
While appreciating Bavz’s appreciation for Nigeria’s support during the crisis in his country, Buhari told his guest that the “least Nigeria could do was what we did to stabilise your country. You can count on our support at all times.”
Bavz, who said he came to thank the President for everything Nigeria has been doing for his country, added that he had been looking forward to such an opportunity.
“I am not in a position to assist you but I pray for you every day. I want to take you as my big brother and share from your experience,” he said.
While thanking the Nigerian leader for sending Obasanjo as a Special Envoy to restore peace to his country recently, the Guinea Bissau leader also noted that “Nigeria is part of the solution and stability” of his country.
Meanwhile, President Buhari on Saturday appealed to China to work with Africa in confronting the threats of fresh political conflicts, terrorism and other forms of extremism, trans-border crimes, illegal arms trade, irregular migration and cybercrime.
He stated that without peace and security, Africa could not succeed in its development objectives.
According to a statement by Adesina, the President said this in his address at the Roundtable of Chinese and African Leaders on the last day of the Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.
Adesina quoted Buhari as saying that collective action was required to confront these new threats to global peace.
The President added that, “These are veritable threats to peace and security and without peace and security we cannot succeed in our development objectives.”
Buhari said China and Africa must work together to confront the threats as well as the the climate change challenge “for which Africa remains badly affected, with severe threats to food security and social stability unacceptable levels of poverty, unemployment and youth restiveness.”
He described China as a strategic and dependable partner in his administration’s determination to change the direction and content of governance, including the management of the country’s resources with priority on accountability, transparency and result-orientation in governance.
punch
No comments:
Post a Comment