…SAYS ITS INDISPENSABLE TO PEACE AND STABILITY
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Monrovia, Liberia capital, described free, transparent, and credible elections in West Africa, as the democratic pillars that are indispensable ingredients for the achievement of the desired peace and stability in the sub-region.
The Presidental, therefore, urged all the leaders in West Africa to do all within their powers to ensure that elections are conducted in their countries in an atmosphere of trust, freedom and transparency.
He added that such is the only way the sub-region can be insulated from the scourge of unconstitutional takeovers that reared its head in three countries recently.
This was contained in President Buhari’s goodwill message to the Government and people of Liberia.
The President was in Liberia to join other world leaders to felicitate with Liberia on the occasion of the 175th Independence Anniversary of the West African nation.
The President explained that democracy and good governance must take its roots on the African continent to sustain peace, stability and development while leaders.
He challenged the West African leaders to redouble their efforts to guarantee the irreversibility of democracy.
“I would like to use the opportunity of this event to address an important issue affecting three countries in the ECOWAS region; Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone
“All the three nations have National Elections in 2023. In Nigeria, we are working towards a free, fair, transparent, credible and acceptable outcome of elections and their results. It is important and necessary for all our countries to key into these resolves as they are indispensable to peace and stability in our countries and sub-region
“The deepening of democracy and good governance are essential antidotes to checkmate unconstitutional change of governments as we sadly witnessed within the last three years in three countries within our sub-region. We must strengthen our efforts to guarantee the irreversibility of democracy in our sub-region and Africa,” he said.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, in a statement said that the President Buhari used the opportunity to recall Nigeria’s leading roles that pulled the country back from its fratricidal insurrection in the 90s.
He said the President added that his presence at the celebrations underscores his strong belief in cementing existing bilateral ties:
“Nigeria’s contributions to the survival and safety of Liberia are well known. The dark period of your country’s civil war from 1989 to 1997, was a period that Nigeria invested hugely for peace in Liberia and indeed stability in the rest of the ECOWAS sub-region. May those dark days never re-surface in our countries and sub-region
“The Nigerian leader commended his Liberian counterpart, Dr. George Manneh Weah, for his demonstration of love for the country and the pursuance of peace, unity and progress, as evidenced by people-oriented projects executed with the sole purpose of taking the country to greater heights within the limited resources available.
“While urging the Liberian leader to do more, he assured him of Nigeria’s continued support in this regard.
“The President of Liberia, Dr. George Weah, thanked President Buhari and other West African leaders for their attendance and to our President in particular, “thank you Mr. President and the good people of Nigeria. Without your support we would not have had peace.” The statement reads.