PRESIDENT BUHARI DEPARTS FOR THE UK. 5A-7B ; President Muhammadu Buhari as he departs Abuja for medical vacation in the UK . P2OTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE. MARCH 6TH 2022
Nigerians have taken to social media to scoff at President Muhammadu Buhari as he jetted off to Liberia as he joins other leaders to mark Liberia’s Special Independence anniversary, commemorating 175 years of self-rule, with the country being the oldest independent post-colonial African State.
The President travelled in the midst of a cocktail of insecurity woes which has pervaded every part of the country. Some Nigerians said it was insensitive of the President to undertake such trip when many Nigerians kidnapped by terrorists are still languishing in the forest.
Some also questioned the rationale of the trip when the Nigerian Labour Party, NLC, is threatening to shut down the country with a strike in solidarity of university lecturers (ASUU) who had been on strike since February 14, this year.
Meanwhile, the Presidency says President Buhari’s trip to Liberia on Tuesday signifies the importance attached to the security and wellbeing of that country and the rest of West Africa.
Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s media aide, offered the clarification in a statement on Monday in Abuja.
According to him, Buhari is the Special Guest of Honour at the celebration and will deliver an address.
He said: ”The trip to Liberia comes at a time when political instability and the return of coups-d’état have upended two to three decades of democratic order in the sub-region.
”Liberia, Sierra-Leone along with Nigeria are going into elections in 2023 and President Buhari is expected to emphasise to them the importance of free, fair and credible elections.
”The President is expected to stress the importance of the respect for rule of law rule throughout the sub-region. Without rule of Law and constitutional rule, there cannot be security, peace and development.
”Peace and security of Liberia (and Sierra-Leone) is important to Nigeria given the enormous investments in men, material and resources expended by this country to secure the two states.
”Without the leadership of Nigeria in the context of ECOWAS to secure these two, there would not have been a Liberia on the map in its present configuration today.”
The presidential aide said Nigeria and Liberia would bilaterally bring to the table, issues of cross-border terrorism, bolstering defence and trade ties.
”The warmth of the relationship and personal chemistry between President Buhari and George Weah of Liberia is no less significant and will play a key role in the events of tomorrow,” he added.
