President Bola Tinubu on Friday in Abuja praised the Finnish government for its intervention in the arrest and detention of Simon Ekpa, stressing that Nigeria will not tolerate divisive actions or rhetoric that threaten its unity.
Receiving the Finnish Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms. Sanna Selin, at the State House, Tinubu commended Finland’s timely action, which he said safeguarded Nigeria’s integrity and helped maintain peaceful coexistence.
“I must thank you for your record on safeguarding human rights in our country with the trial of Simon Ekpa. Nigeria is indivisible,” the president said, according to a statement by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga.
“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,” Tinubu said.
He further emphasised the importance of the rule of law in Nigeria’s democratic process, noting, “The rule of law safeguards our democratic credentials, morals, and values. We must respect the rule of law.”
Ms. Selin praised President Tinubu for his courage in implementing reforms, which she acknowledged as essential for Nigeria’s long-term growth. She also highlighted Simon Ekpa’s disruptive impact on bilateral relations between Nigeria and Finland, adding that relations have since improved.
“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.
She also commended Nigeria’s progress in areas such as peace mediation and energy, stating, “We can work and make it a realisable dream.”
President Tinubu also received the European Union Ambassador, Mr. Gautier Mignot, during the ceremony. He noted the EU’s status as one of Nigeria’s top trading partners and called for increased trade volumes and stronger ties.
He urged the EU to support Nigeria’s efforts in digitalisation and automating service delivery, highlighting the country’s potential for investments due to its youthful population.
Mignot described Nigeria as having “many untapped potentials,” adding that these could be harnessed through technology and development cooperation.
“We have a solid partnership based on our shared values,” the EU ambassador said.
In another meeting, Tinubu discussed the Trans-Saharan African Gas Pipeline project with the Algerian Ambassador to Nigeria, Hocine Mezoued. He stressed the importance of collaboration in lifting the African continent through regional projects.
“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,” Tinubu stated.
Mezoued affirmed Algeria’s commitment to supporting Nigeria in advancing regional development projects and advocating for improved living standards in Africa through multilateral partnerships.
“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, socially, and economically,” Mezoued said.