President Bola Tinubu welcomed President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday. During their brief interactive session,
President Tinubu highlighted the need for a unified approach to address the pressing issues facing West Africa.
Tinubu stressed that West Africa must collaborate to tackle the multifaceted problems of terrorism, banditry, human trafficking, and poverty. He emphasized that regional leaders must prioritize their citizens in governance to ensure the true essence of democracy is upheld.
“An alignment of purpose and structure in West Africa is crucial to effectively address the challenges confronting the region,” Tinubu stated. He added that democratic governance, values, and constitutional order are paramount and must be safeguarded, with institutions like the judiciary and the rule of law being respected.
Praising Senegal’s commitment to constitutional democracy, Tinubu said, “Constitutional democracy is what Senegal proved to the rest of the world and Africa. It is a joy to have you here; to meet the hope and aspiration of our youths.”
Tinubu described Nigeria and Senegal as brotherly nations with a long history of cooperation, emphasizing their shared interest in sustaining democracy. “We are brothers. We have a shared interest in democracy. To make democracy sustainable in the interest of our people, we definitely must work hard,” he noted.
As the Chairman of ECOWAS, Tinubu invited President Faye to collaborate in persuading other West African leaders to uphold democratic values and the rule of law. “We must partner to make our people the focus of our democratic commitment. Your belief in the sovereignty of Africa is shared by all of us,” he said.
President Tinubu concluded by expressing optimism for continued collaboration between Nigeria and Senegal in promoting democratic governance, economic growth, and development. “We will continue to work together. We share good backgrounds, and we will continue to embrace and promote democratic governance,” he affirmed.
