19th August, 2022
By Ismaila Chafe
President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday said the stability of the Chad Republic and all neighbouring countries, is in Nigeria’s interest.
He stated this while receiving a Special Envoy from the Transitional President of Chad, Gen. Mahamat Idris Derby in the State House, Abuja.
Buhari spoke on the virtues of good neighbourliness, saying “common sense makes it extremely important that we are interested in the stability of Chad Republic, as it is in our own interest.
“We are genuinely concerned, and I am sincerely impressed with the leadership of the country in stabilizing the polity. It was the belief in good neighbourliness that made me first visit Chad, Niger Republic, Cameroon, and the Benin Republic when I came in 2015.
“The more exclusion we create, the more we endanger present and future generations of our countries.”
According to Buhari, relations between Nigeria and Chad transcended that of neighbours, as the late President, Marshal Idris Derby Itno “kept me constantly briefed on developments in the country.”
Speaking further on the virtues of good neighbourliness, the president said: “Common sense makes it extremely important that we are interested in the stability of Chad Republic, as it is in our own interest.
“We are genuinely concerned, and I am sincerely impressed with the leadership of the country in stabilizing the polity.
“It was the belief in good neighbourliness that made me first visit Chad, Niger Republic, Cameroon, and the Benin Republic when I came in 2015. The more exclusion we create, the more we endanger present and future generations of our countries.”
Meanwhile, Buhari said he would “keep an ear to the ground, monitor developments closely,” as Chadians hold the National Dialogue, and offered the support of Nigeria in any form required.
In response, the Special Envoy, Mr Brah Mahamat Dallah, said “the outcome of the Sovereign National Dialogue Aug. 20, 2022, would be respected, and not tampered with.”
Dallah, who is also the country’s Minister of Public Works, extolled the long relationship between Nigeria and Chad.
According to him, over 99 per cent of Chadians were interested in, and taking part in the National Dialogue, including main rebel groups.
He added that the parley was sovereign, and the conclusions would be scrupulously implemented.
“We need the support of Nigeria during and after the event,” he added.
NAN