Libyan Statements
Will Not Deter Nigeria - Govt
Uche Aneke, Abuja.
Nigeria
and Liberia have held diplomatic discussions on the need to
foster continental unity.
At the talks, Nigeria’s Acting President Goodluck Jonathan
promised that Libyan leader Muammar Gaddaffi’s call for the
division of Nigeria will not deter the country from championing
the cause harmony among African countries.
The meeting, at the State House Abuja, was an initiative of the
Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, who offered to broker
peace between Nigeria and Libya over Gaddaffi’s comment.
Mrs. Johnson-Sirleaf was accompanied by two Libyan envoys, Dr.
Muhammed Sharif, Secretary-General, World Islamic Call, and Dr.
Rafa Al-Madani, Executive Secretary, Forum for Arab-African.
‘Counter productive utterances’
The Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ima Niboro told
newsmen after the meeting that it was initiated by Johnson-Sirleaf
to put an end to ‘a disturbing trend’.
’’ The purpose of the meeting is to establish a level of
rapport, so that the two nations can put behind them, the recent
statements that had been made, and move forward…It is a process
that has been initiated and it is continuing, and God willing,
we will see it to the end.''
Niboro said that the acting president condemned in clear terms,
the comments by Gaddaffi, saying they were counter-productive to
the promotion of African unity.
In his words, ’’ the acting president made it abundantly
clear that all leaders should be diplomatic in their comments
about other nations, he believes there are certain statements
one can make that can substantially ruffle feathers in other
nations.’’
Niboro said Jonathan expressed the need for other leaders to be
a little circumspect when commenting on the affairs of other
nations.
With additional report from NAN/Yinka
