Buhari : Other countries continue to believe in Nigeria’s potential despite our challenge

•President, Tinubu cheer Fayemi on election as Africa’s Regions’ leader

President Muhammadu Buhari maintains that despite Nigeria’s security issues, other nations, particularly those in Africa, still have faith in the nation’s enormous potential.
In his capacity as the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Buhari congratulated Kayode Fayemi, the governor of Ekiti State, on his recent election as the president of the Forum of Regions of Africa (FORAF) (NGF).
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, also applauded the choice of the Ekiti governor as FORAF president, stating that the honor goes beyond him personally and benefits the entire nation.
Following a conference over the weekend in the Casablanca region of Morocco, the election was held.
In remarks made yesterday at the State House while hosting a delegation that included Fayemi, Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule, and their counterparts from Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Buhari said, “Inspite of the security challenges we have, it is good to see that other countries still believe in our potentialities.
“Congratulations for doing justice to Nigeria. We thank you.”
As a sign of fraternity and solidarity, Buhari also congratulated the other nations that had lined up behind Nigeria to elect one of its nationals as FORAF president.
Sule had earlier informed Buhari that there were governors and attendees from roughly 22 African nations at the conference, which covered a wide range of topics and saw the signing of memorandums of understanding (MOUs) in the fields of agriculture, mining, education, scholarships, and many more.
While Nigeria, from West Africa, won the presidency, vice presidents were elected from South Africa for Southern Africa, Kenya for East Africa, Morocco for North Africa, and Cameroon for Central Africa, according to the governor of Nasarawa State.
When his term as governor expires next month, Fayemi, who will turn over the presidency to the new NGF leader, said the goal of FORAF was to make sub-nationals growth engines “And reduce pressure on central governments.”
He added that FORAF was a unifying force for states (called Regions, Counties, or Provinces in other countries) “to create a globally respected continent.”
The governor said that Nigeria’s election is evidence of how highly regarded Buhari is in Africa.
“Other countries simply withdrew their bids once they saw that Nigeria was interested in the position,” he disclosed.
In his statement of congratulations, Tinubu complimented Fayemi for having the respect and confidence of his African peers, who saw fit to elect him as their leader. He continued by saying that the governor of Ekiti State had always shown his ability and skill in managing the duties given to him.
“I am particularly happy that his peers across the continent found him worthy of this rare honor, which goes beyond him as an individual,” the APC presidential candidate said of Fayemi. The rise of Dr. Fayemi is just another affirmation of Nigeria’s dominant position in Africa.
“I have no doubt that Dr. Fayemi will justify the trust and confidence in him by his peers and provide credible leadership for the fledging organisation as it seeks to play its role in the development of our continent.”