By Joke Kujenya
NIGERIA’S PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has commended South African President Cyril Ramaphosa for his significant contributions to promoting democracy across the African continent.
During a visit to the Radisson Blu Hotel in Sandton, Johannesburg, Tinubu applauded Ramaphosa’s efforts, particularly highlighting the South African government’s initiative on national unity as a key factor in stabilizing the country’s political environment.
This visit came shortly after Ramaphosa’s inauguration as South Africa’s leader.
Tinubu emphasized the importance of the national unity initiative at a time when Africa faces numerous challenges and noted that collaborative economic strategies are crucial for supporting the continent’s disadvantaged and vulnerable populations.
“I am here to congratulate my brother on an impressive effort, especially in forming the government of national unity to stabilize the polity,” Tinubu stated. “This comes at a challenging time for Africa as we work together on economic strategies to uplift our downtrodden and vulnerable people.”
President Ramaphosa, reflecting on Nigeria’s support, expressed his satisfaction with the strong partnership between the two nations as he highlighted the significance of their collaboration in various international forums, including the United Nations and other multilateral institutions.
“It’s been a real pleasure to meet President Tinubu. His presence at my inauguration was a great honour and encouragement for us as South Africans,” Ramaphosa said. “We support each other internationally, and it’s a privilege to discuss a range of issues with President Tinubu.”
Ramaphosa also stressed the importance of enhancing economic and trade relations between Nigeria and South Africa and described both countries as essential pillars of the African continent, noting that their cooperation benefits the entire region.
“When South Africa and Nigeria work together, it benefits Africa. These two countries are among the pillars of our continent,” Ramaphosa added. “We aim to foster good economic and trade relations to address the challenges our nations face.”
Additionally, Ramaphosa acknowledged the positive reception of the government of national unity initiative by other African leaders. He affirmed that South Africa would continue to build on its democratic foundations and use the initiative to drive economic growth and attract investment.
“We have set up a government of national unity, and the African continent has responded positively. This will stabilize our politics and lay a strong foundation for economic growth and investment,” Ramaphosa said.
On June 19th, President Ramaphosa was officially inaugurated as South Africa’s fifth president at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. President Tinubu was among the eighteen presidents invited to the ceremony, which was also attended by several other African leaders, marking a significant event in the continent’s political landscape.
