By Seun Adams
President Muhammadu Buhari, has expressed worries and reservation over the current efforts and move by Libya to expel its mercenaries while consolidating its unifying instructions.
The Chairman, Presidential Council of Libya Mohammed, Mr. Younis Menfi, on Tuesday acknowledged that Libya was fast evolving, stressing that the country now has one government that active on the ground.
“We are expelling the mercenaries, and unifying the instructions.” This is according to the statement signed by Mr. Femi Adesina, and made available to the media on Wednesday.
Why stability of Libya matters to Nigeria, Buhari:
President Buhari on Wednesday hosted Mohammed Younis Menfi, Chairman, Presidential Council of Libya, stressing that a stable or unstable Libya has implications for countries in the Lake Chad Basin area, including Nigeria.
“Republics of Chad, and Niger, have extensive borders with Libya, and they are our immediate neighbours.
Whatever affects them affects us. The stability or instability of Libya will directly affect us,” President Buhari said.
He stressed that security of Nigeria was number one priority to him, noting that “unless a country or institution is secured, there’s no way you can efficiently manage it.”
President Buhari expressed happiness that the Chairman of the Presidential Council of Libya could personally attend the Summit of Lake Chad Basin Commission held in Abuja on Tuesday, to discuss the situation in Chad, and the implications for security in neighbouring countries.
Mohammed Younis Menfi said Libya was fast evolving, “and we now have one government, active on the ground. We are expelling the mercenaries, and unifying the instructions.”
He said democratic elections would be held in due course, adding that the historical relationship between his country and Nigeria in the areas of oil and agriculture meant that one country could not ignore the other.
“We aspire for joint cooperation, and reactivation of previous agreements,” Chairman Menfi said.