Mauritanian Blues

Last week I was among the media team delegation of President Muhammadu Buhari to Mauritania for an official visit.

Recall that the president was conferred with the African Award for Strengthening Peace’’ in Nouakchott, Islamic Republic of Mauritania, for his leadership role in promoting peace on the continent, through regular inventions, counsels, and conciliatory position. 

One major thing about the trip was the number of connecting flights to the country. A direct flight from Nigeria to Mauritania is about four hours but due to lack of direct flights to the country the trip took the whole day. From Nigeria to Togo, then Dakar and Mauritania .It was classic case of Israelite journey.

gain this brings to the fore the need for Nigeria to have a national airline. If Nigeria had a national airline, the flight would have taken a maximum of 4 to 5 hours and not a whole day. Also I was ashamed to see smaller countries like Togo and Senegal with a national airline. These are countries that have one – tenth of our human and natural resources. We need to do better.

One thing I noticed about Mauritania was the simplicity and hospitality of the citizens .It’s still a country in progress with many construction work going on. Visitors to the country four years ago said there have been a tremendous improvement from the last time they visited. Who says a lot cannot happen in four years?

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Back to the main reason for the visit. A day before the main event, presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina in an interview with journalists said the Abu Dhabi peace forum award to be conferred on President Buhari is a parting gift to the president for his contribution to peace in Africa.

He said the president has spent his entire life fighting for peace in Nigeria, West Africa, and Africa.

According to him, the award is coming at a good time as the president is in the twilight of his administration.

He said “peace is everything to individuals, nations, corporations, to any organization peace is very important, therefore the peace award that is being given to our President is worth its weight in gold. 

“Because This is a man that has spent his entire life fighting for peace so to speak. He fought for the war of unity for the country. After that he intervened in the political affairs of the country, just to restore cohesion and after that, he contested for the president of the country all towards guaranteeing peace and development.

“Without peace, they can’t be developed can’t. be economic development. They can’t be corporate progress.

On the day of the award and conference, the hall was full and there was no space to even sit. To some of them seeing President Buhari in the flesh was their goal .

Speaking at the African Conference for Peace, 2023, President Buhari urged leaders to place a premium on youth development, with more seriousness and actionable ideas in promoting skills acquisitions, while discouraging idleness.

The President said idleness of youths and non-inclusion in discussing issues that shape their lives and the future portends liability for the continent, especially in religious fundamentalism and extremism. 

The President, who was honoured by the Abu Dhabi Peace Forum with “Award for Strengthening Peace in Africa”, said there was a need to inculcate values and principles of tolerance and peace in educational institutions, and particularly, among the youths.

“African leaders and decision makers should ensure that democratic principles and good governance form the basis for management of affairs in every country in Africa, noting that peace, security and good governance are inseparable.

“There is need also for African stakeholders, that is, the government, private sector and the Civil Society Organisations, to make concerted efforts to support existing mechanisms and initiatives to build strong and virile institutions that effectively support good governance which, inter alia, lead to the development and progress of our countries and continent.

“African leaders must reaffirm their commitment by demonstrating political will required for ownership of African Peace and Security Architecture and in the implementation of African Governance Architecture.

The President called for the imperatives of the next Summit of the African Union to take a holistic review of the challenges that continue to fester in Libya with the hope of finding pragmatic African approach to resolving the over a decade-old instability in Libya that had made that country a safe-haven for all kinds of weapons and foreign fighters whose profound impacts stare all in the sub-regions and Africa. 

Also while meeting with Rashad Hussain, United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, Buhari said  some people hide under the canopy of religion to advance their economic and political agenda, and continuous education is needed so that the larger populace would not be hoodwinked.

Recounting his private meeting at the White House with former President Donald Trump, the Nigerian leader in a statement by his media aide, Femi Adesina recalls Trump asking him: “why are you killing Christians in Nigeria,” and how he proceeded to tell him that the issue in the country was not religious, but rather criminal, and a usage of religion by some elements to further their economic, and sometimes, political interests.

The President, who had earlier been invested with the African Award for Strengthening the Peace, was described by the Shaykh as “a symbol and icon of leadership and integrity,” who would remain an inspiration even after leaving office as President.

Shaykh Bin Bayyah lauded the efforts of the Nigerian President to eradicate religious extremism, stressing that it is something the world must collaborate to do.

“You are doing a great job in that regard, and it is something we need to do wherever such rears it’s head round the world,” the respected cleric said.

Inviting the Nigerian leader to visit Abu Dhabi within the short time left for him in office, the Shaykh stated: “You have had varied experiences, as a military leader, a democratically elected leader for two terms, and your input will be appreciated in any society. We will be glad to receive you.”