Tinubu lauds Finnish govt for apprehending Simon Ekpa

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President Bola Tinubu has commended the government of Finland for its intervention and the arrest and detention of Simon Ekpa, the self-confessed Biafra agitator, who has been fingered for the reign of terror and bloodbath in the South-east.

Speaking when he received the Letters of Credence from the Finnish Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms Sanna Selin, at the State House, Abuja, Tinubu said his government would not tolerate divisive actions and statements in the country.

He described the action of the Finnish authorities as timely intervention that safeguarded the Nigeria’s integrity and stymied an action that threatened peaceful coexistence.

The Ambassador of the European Union, Mr Gautier Mignot, and the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of Algeria, Hocine Mezoued also presented
their Letters of Credence to President Tinubu.

Addressing the Finnish ambassador, Tinubu said: “I must thank you for your record on safeguarding human rights in our country with the trial of Simon Ekpa. Nigeria is indivisible. We have been through turbulent times, and we don’t want to promote terrorism.

“I am a child born into activism, but not divisiveness. We need cohesion and cooperation to bring about development. Our watchword is stability and cohesion to move the country forward.

“The National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, has informed me. I know what the rule of law means. The rule of law safeguards our democratic credentials, morals and values. We must respect the rule of law.”

Tinubu also observed that the Ambassador’s priorities, including ICT, agriculture, and education, will directly impact the country’s development.

“Nigeria is undergoing a series of necessary reforms to stimulate growth and prosperity. Thank you also for the humanitarian support in the North-east. I believe that we can work together,” he added.

The Finnish Ambassador responded in kind, lauding the President for his courage in initiating reforms that will benefit the economy and ensure prosperity in the future.

She added that Ekpa had been a vog in the wheel of bilateral relations between the two countries.

“Simon Ekpa has been hindering bilateral relations. The cooperation between our two countries is going very well now, and the National Security Adviser has been providing all the evidence,” the Ambassador said.

“I salute you for all the ongoing reforms in the country. They are not easy. Even though it is painful, it is the only way Nigeria can progress. It is essential for the country.

“Finland has been involved in peace mediation as well. We also have opportunities for Nigeria in energy. We can work and make it a realisable dream.”

In a meeting with the Ambassador of the European Union, Tinubu noted that the EU remains one of Nigeria’s highest trading partners and enjoined the envoy to work towards boosting the volume of transactions, and strengthening the ties.

According to Tinubu, Nigeria is in need of support in digitalising and automating operations and processes for rendering services.

The President said the Nigerian economy could support investments with its vibrant, youthful population.

The EU Ambassador told President Tinubu that Nigeria holds “many untapped potentials,” adding that more could be realised through development cooperation and technology leveraging.

“We have a solid partnership based on our shared values,” he said.

As for Algeria, Tinubu urged collaboration between her and Nigeria to implement the trans-Saharan African Gas Pipeline project.

“We need to lift one another in Africa, and we will be stronger together. We can be abused or ignored, but we have nothing to prove to anyone but ourselves. We must lift Africa together,” the President said.

On his part, the Algerian Ambassador noted that the trans-Sahara African Gas Pipeline project and other proposed regional development projects would have major impact on the continent.

“I would like to personally, on behalf of the government and people of Algeria, convey the greetings of our president and express my delight in our shared values politically, economically, socially and economically,” he added.