President Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday, said that despite the several episodes of unconstitutional regime change across Africa in the past three years, democracy remains the best option for any nation-state.
“Democracy is still the best option”, President Buhari said when he received two outgoing Ambassadors in farewell audiences at State House, Abuja.
They included the Angolan and Emirati Ambassadors to Nigeria, Dr Eustaquio Quibato and Dr Fahad Al Taffaq, respectively.
The President’s comments come barely three months after he lamented the spate of coups in Africa when he hosted a delegation of the Universal Peace Federation at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
There have been at least 48 coups and coup attempts on African administrations and regimes since 2010.
Since the start of the Buhari regime alone, 24 coups and coup attempts have been reportedly carried out leading to unstable regimes and destabilised economies.
The affected states included Burundi, Burkina, Central African Republic, Libya, The Gambia, Zimbabwe, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Sudan, Ethiopia, Mali, Tunisia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Mali and São Tomé e Príncipe.
But the President reminisced on the role Nigeria played in the liberation of Angola, noting that the country uses its size and resources to help sister African nations as much as possible.
He said despite the rash of military coups in some parts of the continent, “democracy is still the best option.”
Quibato who arrived earlier thanked the President for the “wise leadership you’ve been giving to Nigeria,” for being the Champion of Anti-Corruption in Africa, and for degrading the Boko Haram insurgency group.
He also lauded President Buhari for repositioning the Nigerian economy to be less import dependent.
In another audience, the President received the outgoing Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates, Dr Fahad Al Taffaq, saying he was quite glad that Nigeria made a good impression on him, as he stated in his remarks.
Recalling that he had been well received anytime he visited UAE, President Buhari assured that the two countries will continue to improve on their relationship, “as we have so much in common”.
Taffaq equally pledged that the two countries will continue to work “on the details of our relationship”, adding that he made lots of friends in government, the private sector, and civil society during his five-year tour of duty.
The diplomat said he traveled extensively in Nigeria and has come to understand the diversity and culture of the people.
“I am leaving with beautiful memories. I will continue to be close to Nigeria in different capacities”, the Ambassador promised.
