Buhari meets African leaders on Burkina Faso, condoles Itsekiri

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NIGERIA: PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari will on Tuesday host fellow African heads of governments to a meeting to deliberate on the political situation in Burkina Faso.

The extraordinary summit is to hold at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.

The president, who also commiserated with the Itsekiri people on the demise

of the Olu of Warri, the Ogiame Atunwase II, would engage his fellow leaders apparently on how to tackle the military take over of power in the French speaking West African nation.

“President Muhammadu Buhari will host an Extraordinary Summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Government tomorrow, Tuesday, September 22, in Abuja,” the Senior Special Assistant to the President of Media and Publicity, Mr. Garba Shehu, said.

“The main item on the agenda of the summit is the current political situation in Burkina Faso,”

Shehu added in the release issued on Monday.

Meanwhile, the President lamented the demise of the Olu: “On behalf of the Federal Government and people of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari extends heartfelt commiserations to the Itsekiri people of Delta State on the passage of their revered Monarch, Ogiame Atuwatse II, the Olu of Warri, whose transition was formally announced at the weekend.”

“President Buhari conveys his personal condolences to the late Olu’s immediate family and relations as well as friends and associates of the highly respected monarch who will be greatly missed by the Itsekiris, the people of Delta State and all Nigerians,” the  Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said in a release.

The president told the members of the late Olu’s family and all Itsekiris to be comforted by the knowledge that Ogiame Atuwatse II will always be remembered as a peace-loving monarch who did his best to foster the harmonious co-existence of his people with other ethnic groups in Delta State and the country.

Buhari stated that he believed the late monarch would also be honoured by the present and future generations as a most worthy custodian of the rich cultural heritage of the Itsekiris, and for the commendable wisdom, sagacity and benevolence which he exhibited in his 28 years reign over the Itsekiri nation.

He prayed that God would receive the royal father’s soul and grant him eternal rest.