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President Muhammadu Buhari has called on African leaders to form a united front to defeat terrorism and violent extremism, which are inhibiting development in the continent.
The President, who, according to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, made the call when he received Kenya’s Deputy President, William Ruto, at the State House, Abuja, yesterday, expressed concern that the “continent is still grappling with acts and effects of terrorism after a successful de-colonisation campaign.”
While acknowledging the valued cooperation between Nigeria and Kenya in the fight against terrorism, Buhari commended the East African country for the recent successes recorded in tackling terrorism in the region.
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“A situation in which insecurity continues to obstruct the process of national development should not be allowed to continue,” he told Ruto, a special envoy of President Uhuru Kenyatta.
On the forthcoming African Union Commission (AUC) election, the President said: “African states need a very strong leadership at the AUC that will encourage member states to refocus their resources toward human and national development.”
On Kenya’s candidature of AUC chairmanship, he said Nigeria would hold consultations with other African leaders on the need for strong and capable leadership that would respond to current challenges facing the continent.
