The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, says Africans must strive to work as one big family.
Abubakar said this on Sunday in Sokoto when the Liberian Vice President, Mr Joseph Boakai, paid him a courtesy call.
” Nigeria will continue to do everything humanly possible to ensure that stability stays in Africa.
” We will also continue to work together to entrench peace, unity, democracy and inter-faith harmony in Africa.
” The Federal Government is also committed to lending support to Liberia, at all times,” he said.
The Sultan further said that Nigeria had committed men and resources to ensure that peace and unity were restored during the ” dark days” of the country.
He said peace was the most veritable tool of development and stability,globally.
” Nigeria and Liberia share a lot in common and the visit will strengthen our existing bond of unity.
” Nigeria will continue to strengthen this strong bond of relationship and brotherhood,” he said.
Earlier, Boakai acknowledged the tremendous sacrifice Nigeria had made to restore peace and unity to Liberia during its civil war.
” Since independence and when we came into hostilities, Nigeria was the first African country to come to our rescue.
” The sultan was part of this history and Nigeria had made ultimate sacrifice in restoring peace to our nation.
” During the Liberian civil, the brave military men and women of Nigeria were the first to set their foot on the Liberian soil,” he said.
Boakai further said that most banks and insurance firms in Liberia were owned by Nigerians.
He also said that many Nigerian Medical Doctors and University Lecturers were currently operating in Liberia.
“Nigeria stood with Liberia even during “the difficult Ebola days”.
The Deputy Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu, who led the Liberian Vice President to the Sultan’s palace, described Sokoto as one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria.( NAN)