Tinubu ready to take up Africa’s leadership challenge – Presidency

The Presidency yesterday affirmed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recognised that Nigeria is being looked upon for leadership and is prepared to step up to the challenge.

The Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communication and Strategy, Dele Alake, said this while speaking to State House reporters following the visit of President Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea Bissau to President Tinubu at his Ikoyi, Lagos residence.

Alake said while the visit was of a private nature, President Embaló took the opportunity to express his solidarity and willingness to cooperate with Nigeria under the leadership of President Tinubu.

He also highlighted that the visit allowed Embaló, who is currently the chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, to reinforce the fraternal relations between the two countries.

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“President Embalo commended the laudable policy initiatives of President Tinubu in the last one month and added that everyone in the international community has been commending the giant strides of the Nigerian leader.

“He came to pay his solidarity and bond with a brother African head of state, in the first instance, and in particular as a brother head of state in West Africa.

“This is a very commendable sign of things to come in the entire West African region in terms of the atmosphere being generated by Nigeria’s giant steps in the last one month, and the need for Nigeria to take its rightful place in the African affairs.

“Everybody is looking up to Nigeria, especially in Africa and the ECOWAS region and President Tinubu is ready to take up the gauntlet,” he added in a statement issued by Abiodun Oladunjoye, Director of Information.

On the entourage of the visiting Guinea-Bissau leader were his special adviser, Caramo Camara, chief of staff, Califa Soares and diplomatic advisor, Ambassador Alfredo Cabral and image operator, Bonifacio Correia.

Those who joined President Tinubu to receive the Guinea-Bissau president included the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila and Mr Alake.