The recent visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to the inauguration of Gambian President, Adama Barrow for a second term in office, is proof that Nigeria is promoting democracy, good governance and the rule of law in the West African sub-region.
According to the Buhari Media Organisation (BMO), President Buhari is also sustaining his prominent role as a leader in the politics of the sub-region, and Africa as a whole.
In a statement signed by its Chairman Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary Cassidy Madueke, the group recalled that it was the intervention of President Muhammadu Buhari that led to the swearing in of Adama Barrow as president when former president Yahya Jammeh refused to vacate office after he lost an election to Barrow.
“Nigeria under the leadership of President Buhari had deployed the Nigerian military to Banjul, Gambia to help restore order after the election, and the former president vacated office.
“We are of the opinion that President Buhari has used every available opportunity to spread the message of democracy, good governance and rule of law in West Africa and the entire continent. This is a clear indication that Nigeria, under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has bounced back, and is now playing a proactive leadership role in the region.
“We believe that the visit of Mr. President will open a window of opportunities for more bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and The Gambia. It will also go a long way to boost economic cooperation between both countries, especially as more Nigerian businesses are making inroads into The Gambia.
“It is also worthy of note that Nigeria’s relationship with The Gambia goes as far back as twenty years ago when a Nigerian Judge was appointed as the Chief Justice of the West African country. Recently, the Nigerian Minister of Defence signed a defense pact with his Gambian counterpart formalizing both countries’ relations spanning over 60 years”.
BMO also recalled that “President Buhari has continued to wield Nigeria’s enormous influence in the West African region with his support for ECOWAS sanctions on the Malian military junta for seizing power from a democratically-elected government.
“We hold the view that the status of Nigeria as a giant of Africa has, rather than diminish, blossomed under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari contrary to deliberate and malicious misgivings in some quarters”, the statement added.
