President Bola Tinubu has urged leaders in West Africa to attract inspiration from Ghana’s current peaceable elections as a mannequin of democratic maturity and dedication to nationwide unity.
On the opening of the 66th Extraordinary Session of ECOWAS on Sunday in Abuja, President Tinubu, in a press release by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, lauded President Nana Akufo-Addo and the individuals of Ghana for the resounding success of their current presidential and parliamentary elections, setting a excessive commonplace for the area.
“I urge all of us within the area to be taught from this good democratic apply and prioritise our nation’s nationwide unity to make sure political stability of the area in order that this fashion of peaceable transition turns into the tradition of democracy not solely in West Africa but additionally in the complete Africa continent,” he acknowledged.
“Regardless of the challenges of interrupted democratic governance in some West African international locations, the area has continued to file democratic positive factors. Only a week in the past, on December 7 2024, Presidential and Parliamentary elections occurred in Ghana, the second-largest democracy in our area.
“One of many main candidates who occurs to be the incumbent Vice President, His Excellency Mahamudu Bawumia, along with the management of the ruling celebration, New Patriotic Occasion (NPP), conceded defeat and accepted the result of the Presidential election by congratulating the President-elect, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, of Nationwide Democratic Congress (NDC) for his victory, even earlier than the official announcement of the election outcomes.
“This gesture, because it occurred in Nigeria in 2015, demonstrates political maturity and respect for the need of the individuals of Ghana,” Tinubu famous.
President Tinubu praised President Akufo-Addo for his distinctive management and unwavering dedication to ECOWAS throughout his two-year time period, describing him as a formidable Pan-Africanist.
President Tinubu additionally congratulated the Authorities and other people of Senegal on their profitable parliamentary elections.
He praised Ghana’s International Minister, Shirley Ayokor Botchwey, for painstakingly main the ECOWAS Ministerial Committee of the Reform.
He wished her a profitable tenure in her new position because the Secretary Normal of the Commonwealth.
In his second time period as ECOWAS Chair, President Tinubu highlighted achievements from his first time period, together with strides in regional integration, financial progress, battle decision, and counterterrorism efforts.
He mentioned the ECOWAS Commerce Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) and Frequent Exterior Tariff (CET) have strengthened commerce and financial cooperation.
“Equally, regional infrastructure initiatives such because the West African Fuel Pipeline, the West Africa Energy Pool, and modernising key border posts with superior gear and joint border operations utilising state-of-the-art know-how have considerably enhanced connectivity and promoted better regional integration.
“Moreover, our efforts in stabilising our area by means of peacekeeping missions at the moment within the Gambia and Guinea Bissau, in addition to earlier operations in Liberia and Sierra Leone, have demonstrated our capability to behave decisively within the face of adversity,” he added.
President Tinubu mentioned the ECOWAS Regional Motion Plan on the Combat Towards Terrorism has supplied a complete framework to fight violent extremism and improve regional safety.
As ECOWAS nears its fiftieth anniversary in 2025, President Tinubu urged member states to recommit to the bloc’s founding beliefs of financial integration, peace, and prosperity.
“As a regional group, we should keep our basic duty: to guard our residents and create an enabling surroundings the place they will prosper.
“As leaders, we all know that safety shouldn’t be a luxurious however a necessity. Equally, enhancing the dwelling requirements of our individuals shouldn’t be an aspiration however an obligation,” he mentioned.
The Presidents of Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, The Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, and Senegal attended in individual alongside the Vice President of Sierra Leone, the Finance Minister of the Benin Republic, the Minister of International Affairs of Togo, and the Ambassador of Cape Verde to Nigeria.
In the meantime, the President of the ECOWAS Fee, Dr Omar Touray, counseled Nigeria for paying 100 per cent of its group levy for 2023 and substantial remittances for 2024, reflecting Nigeria’s management and dedication underneath President Tinubu.
“For the primary time in 19 years, Nigeria has paid 100% of its group levy from 2023. I am subsequently happy to announce that on Friday, December 13, 2024, Nigeria paid N85 billion and $54 million, representing 100% of the 2023 levy and the 2024 levy as much as July 2024.
“All of us agree that this cost underscores the management and dedication of President Tinubu, the federal government and the individuals of Nigeria to our group. At a extra private degree, it represents confidence within the administration I’ve been privileged to steer since 2022.
He inspired different member-states to fulfill their monetary commitments diligently.
