Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has called on African
leaders to unite against the rising spate of attacks being perpetuated
by insurgents and terrorists in the continent.
Saraki, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sanni
Onogu, in Abuja, made the call when he received the Bureau of the
African Ambassadors Group who visited him at the National Assembly on
Tuesday.
He stated that much as it is necessary to seek external support in the
fight against terrorism, it is better for African leaders to come
together and be their brothers’ keeper.
Saraki said: “I want to thank you individually and collectively for
the support that you continue to give our country in the fight against
terrorism.
“I think the way forward for us is that we should all unite, we should
all come together to defeat terrorism and that is why the initiative
of President Buhari is also working in the regional support that
we are seeing, is beginning to yield good result.
“It shows what we can achieve when we are together, when we are
united. I think the message here is that we have to solve our
problems. Yes, we will get support from the international community,
but we must be our brothers’ keeper.
“We should start first at home to see that we come together. There is
no doubt that in years to come, Africa will be the place to be.
“Whether you are talking about development or the possibility of
economic growth, it is here in Africa and where people from other
parts of the world are coming into Africa, we within Africa are not
working closely together and this is a challenge for all of us,”
Saraki stated.
Earlier, the Dean of the African Ambassadors Group and Ambassador of
the Saharawi Republic, Ambassador Oubi Bachir stated that the rising
wave of terrorism across the world shows that no where is safe
anymore.
He condemned the recent Boko Haram attacks in some parts of the
country, while pledging the unconditional support and solidarity of
their various home governments to the Federal Government on the
campaign against Boko Haram.
Bachir said: “As we reaffirm our strong condemnation of the criminal
and cowardly acts carried out by the Boko Haram terrorist group in
Nigeria and the neighboring countries, we express our unconditional
support and solidarity with the Nigerian Government and people.
“You can count on our countries individually and collectively in
standing by your side not only in the fight against terrorism but also
facing up to the challenges of development, employment and good
governance,” the Ambassador stated.