President Muhammadu Buhari has assumed the role of chairman of the Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS) after being elected to the position by fellow heads of state at the 53rd session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS in Lome, the Togolese capital.
In a press statement released by President Buhari’s Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, Buhari promised to work to bring ECOWAS to greater heights despite the fact that he had not nominated himself for election to the position.
“I am truly humbled and pledge to serve and work with all of you to deliver on peace, security, good governance and socio-economic development of the sub-region,” the President said in the released statement.
President Buhari had nothing but praises for his predecessor and President of Togo, Faure Gnassingbe, for successfully hosting two important meetings of the Joint Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and ECOWAS as well as the 53rd Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS.
Faure Gnassingbe took over the mantle of Togolese leadership from his father Gnassingbe Eyadema who ruled Togo as a dictator for a really long time. Faure continues to retain a hold on power despite bitter opposition from Togolese citizens.
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President Buhari himself is facing crisis in his home country of Nigeria where insecurity and extreme poverty is rife. Boko haram has resumed its attacks in the North-east while Fulani herdsmen have wrecked carnage in the middle-belt and other states in Nigeria.
Corruption is rife and the political scene does not look too well for President Buhari as he has declared his intention to run for a second term in office despite the apparent failure of his government to deliver on campaign promises.
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has been hit with a massive wave of defections lately to the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP); this is causing massive rumble in the political atmosphere of the country as politicians gear up towards the 2019 general elections.