By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
President Muhammadu Buhari has pledged the support of Nigeria to countries in the West African region towards entrenching democracy.
In a statement by the special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, the President made the remark while playing host to President Roch Marc Christian Kabore of Burkina Faso, who was on a one-day official visit to Nigeria.
“We are keeping tabs on situations in countries that have elections ahead. We know the countries that are calm and the ones where there have been unfortunate casualties. We will always support those who have elections ahead, so that things can go smoothly,” President Buhari said.
The Aso Rock statement explained that President Kabore, who chairs the Economic, Trade and Liberalization Scheme of ECOWAS, said he was in Nigeria to discuss crucial sub-regional issues with President Buhari.
“These include the convening of a joint commission meeting between Nigeria and Burkina Faso, reported trade difficulties among Nigeria, Ghana, Republic of Benin, and Niger Republic, and the way forward.
“President Kabore commended President Buhari for what he called ‘strong leadership and support’ displayed by the Nigerian leader in his capacity as Chairman of COVID-19 response in West Africa,” the statement said.
Buhari, according to the statement, expressed hope that the summit held in Accra, Ghana, on Tuesday, September 15, would yield positive results, stressing: “We need cohesion all over West Africa,” he said.