PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has appealed to political leaders in Guinea Bissau to embrace unity and avoid any act that could plunge the nation into further crisis.
He made the plea while receiving Mr Modibo Toure, the special representative of the United Nations Secretary-General in Guinea Bissau, at the State House, Abuja, on Monday.
President Buhari decried the lingering political crisis in the West African country, adding: “They must accept responsibility for leadership to stabilise their own country.”
The president added that it was the country’s political leaders, and not outsiders that could effectively resolve the political crisis in the country.
He told the visiting envoy that Nigeria would welcome increased support from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the United Nations to stabilise the country and prevent breakdown of law and order.
President Buhari said Nigeria had a responsibility to the region and the rest of Africa, and assured that “we will not shirk on our responsibility, in spite of the hardship confronting us.”
The UN representative, Modibbo Toure, had requested Nigeria to use its clout in the regional bloc, ECOWAS, to break the deadlock in the country.
He warned that Guinea Bissau faced a very grim future if the country continues without a functioning government.