Well make sacrifice we can for Mali Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has promised that Nigeria will do its best for the sister country, Mali, within the requirements of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

He made the pledge on Thursday when he received a Special Envoy from Colonel Assimi Goita, the Transitional President of Mali, Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga, Mali’s Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation.

© Thomson Reuters Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari attends a plenary session at the start of the Paris Peace Forum, in Paris, France, November 11, 2021. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes

According to a statement issued by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity), the envoy led a team, which briefed President Buhari on Conclusions from the National Conference on State-Rebuilding, held in Bamako, December 27 to 30, 2021.

Responding to the comprehensive briefing, the president said nobody could love Mali more than Malians themselves. He then counselled that everyone should work within the tenets of ECOWAS in order to restore constitutional order to the West African country at the shortest time possible.

“Nigeria will work within ECOWAS limitations to assist Mali. Every country has its issues. We fought our own civil war before, so we may not know the totality of the internal politics of each country. But, we will make as much sacrifice as we can for Mali, within ECOWAS requirements,” he said.

The Special Envoy expressed gratitude to Nigeria for supporting his country in terms of bilateral relations, and for the help rendered to the ECOWAS Mediation Team, led by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said the vision of Colonel Goita was speedy return to democracy, adding that Mali wants to review laws guiding elections, “and professionalise the process.”

Meanwhile, a special meeting of ECOWAS holds in Ghana, Sunday, to deliberate on the political situation in Mali.

This was the subject of a parley at the State House, Abuja, Thursday, between the Head of the ECOWAS Mediation Team, former Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, and President Buhari.

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