Nigeria: President-elect of Guinea Bissau visits Nigeria, meets with President Buhari
Abuja, Nigeria (PANA) - Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari Sunday reiterated his desire for stability, peace, progress and prosperity in the entire West African sub-region.
Buhari said his when he received the president-elect of Guinea Bissau, Umaro Muhktar Sissoco Embalo, who paid a day’s working visit to Nigeria.
President Buhari told Embalo that “without stability, there can be no development", adding:"We will do whatever it will take to stabilize the sub-region.”
He commended out-going President José Mário Vaz, himself a candidate in the elections, for supporting the emergence of Embalo in the second round of balloting “in the interest of peace and stability”.
He said history would remember President Vaz for putting national interest above his own, emphasizing that he cared for peace within the region.
The Nigerian president expressed his desire for both countries to work together for the betterment of their peoples and reiterated his vision for peace, progress and prosperity in West Africa.
Responding, the president-elect of Guinea Bissau said he came to Nigeria on a “thank you visit” and to express his "good wishes" following his emergence as winner in the keenly contested just-concluded elections in his country.
President-elect Embalo, a businessman-turned politician, was prime minister of Guinea Bissau under incumbent President Jose Mario Vaz between 2016 and 2018.
He was a member of the ruling African Party of Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) when he founded the Movement for Democratic Alternative (MADEM-G15) on which platform he won the elections.
He praised President Buhari for his support leading to his emergence as winner in the elections and expressed his appreciation for the warm and friendly disposition of Nigeria towards him and the people of his country.
He informed the Nigerian leader of his selection as the special guest of honour at the presidential inauguration coming up next month.
President Buhari gave the president-elect of Guinea-Bissau the assurance that he would endeavour to make honour the invitation.
-0- PANA MON/RA 5Jan2019
