The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Wednesday, expressed concern over the unconstitutional change of power experienced in several African States.
“I thought we had finally put that behind us,” Buhari said when he hosted a delegation of the Universal Peace Federation at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He also compared military and civilian leadership, describing the latter as “the best”.
The President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, disclosed this in a statement he signed on Wednesday, titled ‘I’ve experienced both military and civilian rule. multi-party democracy is the best, says President Buhari.’
Findings by our correspondent revealed at least 48 coups and coup attempts on African administrations and regimes since 2010.
Since the start of the Buhari regime, 24 coups and coup attempts have been reportedly carried out leading to unstable regimes and destabilised economies.
The affected States include Burundi, Burkina, Central African Republic, Libya, The Gambia, Zimbabwe, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Sudan, Ethiopia, Mali, Tunisia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Mali and Sao Tome and Principe.
Wondering why some African countries were still descending into unconstitutional regime change, Buhari said: “I thought we had finally put that behind us.”
On the Peace Summit being planned for Abuja, the President pledged Nigeria’s support, “relative to resources, to help in stabilising neighboring countries.”
The summit will bring all African countries together before the end of the Buhari regime.
He also decried the challenges in the Sahel belt of the continent, lamenting that it is of great concern, as it affects both agriculture and businesses negatively.
The President described the interest of Universal Peace Federation Africa in the continent as “quite genuine,” saying he was very pleased with the development.
In their remarks, the Chairperson of the Federation in Africa, Dr Katherine Rigney and Chairman of the Universal Peace Federation International Dr Thomas Walsh, said they believed the forthcoming summit in Nigeria “Will top them all,” having held similar meetings in the past in Niger Republic, Senegal, Sao Tome and Principe, South Africa, among others.
During the Abuja Summit, Buhari will be given the Leadership and Good Governance Award, “as an appreciation of the fantastic results you’ve brought to Nigeria, and a celebration of your anti-corruption credentials,” Rigney said.
