Why stability of Libya matters to us, by President Buhari
*As visiting Leader Libya has bounces back
By BASHIR ADEFAKA
Mohammed Younis Menfi said Libya was fast evolving, “and we now have one government, active on the ground. We are expelling the mercenaries, and unifying the instructions.”
President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, explained Wednesday the reason stability of the Arab Jamahiriya of Libya matters to his country, while receiving President of the North African country, Mohammed Younis Menfi, in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
President Buhari had hosted His Excellency Mohammed Younis Menfi, who is Chairman Presidential Council of Libya, during which he gave the explanation.
According to a statement issued by Special Adviser to the Nigerian President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, and copy of which was sent to The DEFENDER, President Buhari stressed that a stable or unstable Libya has implications for countries in the Lake Chad Basin area, including Nigeria.
“Republics of Chad, and Niger, have extensive borders with Libya, and they are our immediate neighbours. Whatever affects them affects us. The stability or instability of Libya will directly affect us,” President Buhari said.
He stressed that security of Nigeria was number one priority to him, noting that “unless a country or institution is secured, there’s no way you can efficiently manage it.”
President Buhari said he was happy that the Chairman of the Presidential Council of Libya could personally attend the Summit of Lake Chad Basin Commission held in Abuja on Tuesday, to discuss the situation in Chad, and the implications for security in neighbouring countries.
Mohammed Younis Menfi said Libya was fast evolving, “and we now have one government, active on the ground. We are expelling the mercenaries, and unifying the instructions.”
He said democratic elections would be held in due course, adding that the historical relationship between his country and Nigeria in the areas of oil and agriculture meant that one country could not ignore the other.
“We aspire for joint cooperation, and reactivation of previous agreements,” Chairman Menfi said.
