President Bola Tinubu hosted Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye on Thursday, emphasizing the need for West African unity in tackling regional challenges. During their meeting at the State House, President Tinubu highlighted the importance of collaboration to combat terrorism, banditry, human trafficking, and poverty.
“We must defeat human trafficking, terrorism, banditry, and poverty in our society. That must be our focus and commitment,” Tinubu stated. He urged regional leaders to prioritize the people in governance, asserting that democracy loses its essence if the people are not the focal point.
President Tinubu stressed the sanctity of democratic governance, values, and constitutional order, noting the importance of respecting institutions like the judiciary and the rule of law. “Constitutional democracy is what Senegal proved to the rest of the world and Africa,” he said, commending Senegal for its commitment to democratic principles.
Describing Nigeria and Senegal as brotherly nations with a long history of cooperation, Tinubu expressed the need for sustained efforts to make democracy beneficial for the people. He invited President Faye to collaborate on encouraging other West African leaders to uphold democratic values and return to constitutional governance.
In his response, President Faye acknowledged the shared values, ideals, and challenges between Nigeria and Senegal, emphasizing their longstanding good relations since the 1960s. He called for the reactivation of the Nigeria-Senegal joint commission to enhance bilateral relations in diplomacy, trade, and other areas.
Faye praised ECOWAS as a successful model of regional integration and expressed confidence in President Tinubu’s leadership to strengthen member-state relations. He emphasized the need for unity in addressing common challenges like human trafficking and migrant smuggling, aiming for economic growth and satisfying the needs of their people.
“Your wisdom and democratic values should be an asset to that vision, and my youth and determination can also be an asset,” Faye said, underscoring the potential for collaborative efforts to open new opportunities and strengthen democratic values in the region.