South African ex- president and Head of the Commonwealth Observer Mission to Nigeria, Dr. Thabo Mbeki, has appealed to Nigeria’s president-elect Bola Tinubu to make Africa one of his priorities when he assumes office on May 29th.
Mbeki made this known on Thursday when he visited the president-elect in his Abuja residence on the completion of the Commonwealth Observer Mission, according to a statement by Tinubu’s Media Aide, Tunde Rahman, on Friday.
Mbeki, who noted that the election was fair and credible, asked Tinubu to make the entire African continent his compass when he takes over the reins of government.
“Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa with a big economy. Whatever happens here sets the pace for the rest of Africa.
“We need a strong Nigerian presidency that will also focus on the African region,” he said.
“Your opponent will be looking for the smallest thing to throw stones. That is the way of democracy,” he added.
Responding, the president-elect assured the former South African president of his commitment to further African integration and economic development.