Buhari Charges African Leaders On Peace, Political Stability

President Muhammadu Buhari has called on African leaders to ensure socio-political stability in their respective countries.

The Nigerian president believes this would help to achieve peace and speedy regional and sub-regional integration in the continent.

Buhari gave the call at a joint press briefing with the visiting Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Both leaders had a closed door meeting in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Buhari further said even though the situation in the ECOWAS sub-region was relatively stable, there was the need to continue to persuade the leaders to pay more attention to security and development.

“…[T]here is the need for us to continue to persuade our colleagues to show appreciation on the efforts the sub-region is doing to make sure that we pay more attention to security and development.

“I have appreciated very much your efforts and I also congratulate you on your successes.

President Buhari stated that the forthcoming 3rd Dakar International Forum on Peace and Security would discuss some political developments in two countries of the sub-region.

While commending the Liberian leader for handling the affairs of the ECOWAS diligently, Buhari lauded Sirleaf’s efforts in stabilising her country.

“I have to very sincerely congratulate you with the way you have stabilised your country and with the small contributions Nigeria was able to make throughout those difficult times that you went through.

“And also thank you very much on the way you are handling ECOWAS responsibility.

“We have one or two countries that I believe we will discuss when we go to Senegal today, tomorrow and maybe on Wednesday, in terms of peace and security.’’

In her remarks, the Liberian leader, who is also the Chairperson of the Heads of State and Government of the ECOWAS nations, said she was in Nigeria to be updated on the focus and challenges of the work of the ECOWAS Commission.

According to her, the visit is also meant to enable her meet with the entities of ECOWAS, in preparation for the forthcoming Summit.

“I reached out to the President and asked him for the opportunity to be able to brief him on some of the findings I have had in my two days of consultation with the commission.

“I also exchanged with him some of the developments in our sub-region, political development; economic development, and to get his wise counsel.

The Liberian President, who arrived Abuja on Sunday on a two-day official visit to Nigeria, visited the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja on the same day

The ECOWAS chairperson also held closed door meetings with the President of the commission, Mr Marcel de Souza, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and senior officials of the commission