Why G7 Nations Decided To Support President Buhari
Following the summit held in Germany, members of the G7 explained why they decided to support Muhammadu Buhari, the new president of Nigeria.
It was disclosed on June 8, Monday, that the world leaders pledged support to Nigeria in the fight against terrorism, which was one of the major issues discussed at the meeting.
According to Vanguard, the world leaders yesterday provided the grounds behind the cooperation strengthening. The G7 nations said it was because they acknowledged "the way and manner of his emergence and the tremendous challenges faced by the government he leads, not of his making, especially in its efforts to combat the Boko Haram".
Buhari's spokesman Garba Shehu stated after the summit:
"The G7 leaders said to him that they recognized the President’s massive amount of confidence and expectations behind his government.
"They acknowledged him as having emerged from an election adjudged to be the freest in the country’s electoral history, but regretted the severe handicaps his new government has to face from the outset.
"They told President Buhari that they took cognizance of the fact of the several handicaps, including the lack of resources, leaving him with a government over-stretched in capacity, itself riddled with mismanagement. They noted that the country’s army lacked training and equipment with little or no will to engage.
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"In recognition of the fact that the security threat of the Boko Haram had gone beyond Nigeria, equally affecting other countries in the region, the G7 conceded that no one country can tackle it alone.
“They expressed warm sentiments towards the Nigerian leader and praised him for reaching out to the country’s neighbours and the group of industrialized nations within a week of his takeover of government.
"In view of the seriousness he has shown in tacking this problem, the group pledged that they would ‘engage, cooperate and collaborate’ with President Buhari’s government in tackling the serious problems that Nigeria faces.
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“They left it to President Buhari to come up with the specifics on his requirements, assuring that they would study the requirements either individually or collectively and offer help. They asked to know the nature and the scale of the problems in order to know the nature and the scale of the assistance they will provide. Suffice it to say that they assured President Buhari that ‘Nigeria will find a partner in the G7.'"
It should be recalled that Buhari warmly welcomed in Germany by Chancellor Angela Merkel. G7 leaders held a special session on countering extremism in Africa and the Middle East.
With election of the new president, the diplomatic relationship between the US and Nigeria may witness the improvement. Last year was tense for the two nations, as the American authorities and Goodluck Jonathan-led government did not find consensus regarding anti-Boko Haram operations. However, after Buhari's inauguration indications already emerged that the cooperation might be renewed.
Source: Legit.ng
