President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday commended President Boni Yayi of Benin Republic, for his decision to relinquish power after 10 years in office.
The President spoke while addressing State House correspondents during Yayi’s visit.
He said, “He (Yayi) is saying goodbye to us because he has agreed to obey his country’s constitution.
“He is in his second term, ending in March and he has made an undertaking with his country that he is going to respect the constitution of the country and he is preparing his party to produce a candidate that he will back in the elections.
“He has been very large-hearted. He has done so many things for his country in terms of security, and economy.
“I thanked him very much for his consistency in identifying with us and in being such a good neighbour and I assure him that Nigeria is very interested, necessarily, because good neighbourhood is good for our security and for our economy.”
Buhari said Nigeria would continue to cooperate with its neighbours to ensure security and economic development.
He also thanked Benin Republic for voluntarily contributing troops to check the menace of insurgency across member countries of the Lake Chad Basin Commission.
Yayi in his remarks said he decided to visit Buhari in order to thank Nigeria for its support to his government and country.
He said. “I have come to thank my brother with my heart and his predecessors of course. I’m talking about late Yar’Adua; I’m talking about my senior, Obasanjo; I’m talking about Goodluck Jonathan and also thank the people of Nigeria.
“I have really enjoyed their support at all time. God bless you, all and Happy New Year to you, to your family and to the people of Nigeria.”
