NIGERIA: Tinubu Reaffirms African Unity At John Mahama’s Ghana Presidential Inauguration

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has affirmed that African nations will stand strong against all forms of external forces seeking to disrupt their unity.

Tinubu conveyed this message of unity and resilience on Tuesday, during the swearing-in ceremony of Ghana’s President, John Dramani Mahama, in Accra.

Addressing dignitaries and guests present at the historic event, Tinubu stated: “Never, never shall we harm others, and never allow any outsider to hurt us or disrupt the unity for which so many of our heroes gave their sweat, blood, and very lives to achieve.”

As the special guest of honor, Tinubu, commended Ghana’s democratic maturity, describing the peaceful transition as a testament to the strength of democracy in Africa.

He described the inauguration as a proud moment not only for Ghana but for the entire continent.

“This moment does more than symbolise another milestone in the evolution of Ghanaian democratic society. It lays to bed the question of whether Ghana and Africa are capable of democratic and productive endeavours. Ghana has answered that question resoundingly”, Tinubu said.

Reflecting on the historical bonds between Ghana and Nigeria, Tinubu called for continued solidarity and cooperation among African nations, urging critics of the continent to acknowledge its progress rather than spread outdated narratives of comtitner’s setbacks.

“We have nothing to prove to anyone except ourselves. We shall lift our nations out of poverty and build a resilient economy at our own pace”, Tinubu emphasized.

The Nigerian president praised the leadership qualities of his Ghanaian counterpart, describing President Mahama as a man of “patriotic vision and substance.”

The president also expressed confidence in Mahama’s ability to lead Ghana toward greater prosperity and pledged Nigeria’s support for its West African neighbour.

“My dear brother, I am here to work with you. You know you can count on Nigeria’s support and goodwill whenever needed. The bond is strong and cannot be broken”, he assured Mahama.

Tinubu invoked the legacy of African leaders such as Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah, and Nigeria’s founding fathers, calling on current leaders to draw inspiration from their vision of unity and progress.

“As Ghana draws inspiration and strength from Kwame Nkrumah, Nigeria similarly draws inspiration from its founding leaders who cherished the close relationship between our two nations,” he said.

The Nigerian President closed his remarks with a call for regional integration to address pressing challenges such as poverty, youth unemployment, and insecurity.

He expressed optimism about a future of shared prosperity for Africa, guided by the principles of dialogue and cooperation.

“Let us all look forward to a future filled with hope, opportunity, and prosperity. God bless Ghana, Nigeria, ECOWAS,and our beloved Africa”, he said.