Diplomacy
Nigeria is interested in the situation in Niger Republic
Jul 26, 2010, 11:24
| | President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has said that Nigeria is very much interested in whatever happens in the Niger Republic because of shared cultural affinities.
The President said during an audience granted the United Nations Deputy Secretary General, Asha Rose Migiro, at the sidelines of the 15th African Union Summit in Kampala, Uganda, on Sunday July 25, that any negative occurrence in Niger Republic would impact negatively on Nigeria in terms of massive influx of refugees.
President Jonathan said that Nigeria had recently sent grains and financial support to alleviate the harsh effects of the current drought in its northern neighbour, and is prepared to do all that is necessary to restore democracy in Niger.
He said that Nigeria, whose former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (Rtd), is the ECOWAS Special Envoy and Chief Negotiator in Niger, is midwifing the transition project in that country with the support of Senegal and Ghana, adding that it would ensure that the March 2011 deadline for the interim military leaders to conduct elections and hand over to civilians is met.
President Jonathan who is the ECOWAS Chairman, stressed the need to encourage and mentor the “young military leaders in Niger Republic who have shown some sincerity of purpose” to hand over next year.
On the situation in Guinea Bissau, the President urged the United Nations and other development partners to provide the necessary funds to be used to reform the old soldiers and officers, retrain the young ones and conduct elections.
The UN Deputy Secretary General had earlier brought up the current happenings in Niger Republic, Guinea Bissau, Guinea and Cote D’Ivoire during the discussions.
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