Thursday, President Muhammadu Buhari issued a warning to foreign officials not to meddle in the impending elections, which start in just a few weeks.
He gave the warning during a ceremony where he was presented with letters of credence from the ambassadors of the Kingdom of Thailand, the Republic of Senegal, the Republic of Switzerland, the Republic of Sweden, the Republic of Ireland, and the Republic of South Sudan.
He told them, “I urge you to be guided by diplomatic practice to ensure that your activities remain within the limits of your profession as you monitor the build-up to the elections and the conduct of the general elections.
“I wish you all success in your respective tours of duty and at the same time encourage you to take time to enjoy the unique nature and culture at your disposal as you travel across our country.”
President Buhari said Nigeria is working closely with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to combat insecurity in the West African area and stem the tide of illegitimate administrative changes.
He said we could find solutions to the problems plaguing West Africa.
Friendlier nations were encouraged by President Buhari to “support efforts to address the problem of insecurity, fight against corruption, diversification of the economy, and our efforts in promoting good governance.”
In his address to the Ambassadors, he remarked on the excellent state of Nigeria’s relations with the countries represented and praised the efforts of their predecessors in fostering such relationships.
Accordingly, he said, “I am therefore confident that your appointments are deliberate to build on the successes of your immediate predecessors to advance our relations to significant and enviable heights.
“As you settle down to your diplomatic responsibilities, I hope you will appreciate the political, socio-economic and cultural diversities which are the hallmarks of the Nigerian nation.
“I encourage you to build friendships and take time to fraternise across the country’s length and breadth, including interfacing with both the public and private sectors in a bid to explore areas of mutual benefit to your respective countries and Nigeria.
“Sectors such as Healthcare, Education, Infrastructure, Local Manufacturing, Pharmaceuticals, Agribusiness, Transportation, and Solid Minerals are areas of particular interest to us and foreign investors alike.
“This will enable us to collectively strive to resuscitate all our countries’ economies in the post-pandemic global recovery processes.”
President Buhari thanked the countries for their assistance in the fight against kidnapping, banditry, terrorism, drugs, and human trafficking in the Lake Chad region, as well as the threats posed by environmental problems brought on by climate change.
He reaffirmed the complexity of the elements contributing to these problems beyond the capacity of any one nation to address them successfully.
President Buhari said that all nations must now cooperate on security issues through bilateral and multilateral venues and reach a consensus on how to address global threats.
Ambassadors Nicolas Lang of Switzerland, Annika Hahn Englund of Sweden, Peter Ryan of Ireland, Kitiisak Klomchit of Thailand, Nicolas Nyouky of Senegal, and David Chaot of South Sudan, all presented their letters of credence, according to a statement issued by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity).
The Swiss Ambassador responded on behalf of his colleagues, assuring the President of Nigeria that they would carry out “their functions as Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary with dedication, to the best of their knowledge and belief, and for the mutual good of our countries.”
The Ambassadors sent their best wishes to the President for his remaining days in office and hoped for peaceful, free, and fair elections in Nigeria.
Ambassador Lang said: “We are keenly aware of the importance of Nigeria to the wellbeing of the entire African continent, its role in international politics and its weight in the world economy.
“Each and every one of us is proud to represent his or her country and its interests in this great Federal Republic of Nigeria.”