By Chinasa Nwankwo
Nigeria has facilitated the safe and dignified return of Sierra Leone’s former President Ernest Koroma to his country, following more than two years of temporary relocation to Nigeria.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, made this known in a statement issued by Dr Magnus Eze, her Special Assistant on Communication and New Media.
It said the minister accompanied Koroma to Freetown on the instruction of President Bola Tinubu, adding that Koroma’s return marked the successful conclusion of a regional diplomatic and confidence-building process.
According to the statement, Koroma’s relocation to Nigeria in January 2024 followed engagements by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), aimed at promoting peace, stability and political understanding in Sierra Leone.
She explained that the process which helped to create conditions for greater understanding between Sierra Leone’s current President Julius Bio and the country’s former president, paved the way for Koroma’s temporary stay in Nigeria.
“His conduct throughout this period reflected restraint, statesmanship, and commitment to a peaceful outcome,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu was quoted as saying.
The statement reiterated the sustained engagements involving ECOWAS, the Nigerian Government and other stakeholders contributed to resolving issues that had necessitated the relocation, during his stay in Nigeria.
The minister expressed appreciation to President Bio, former President Koroma and the people of Sierra Leone for their cooperation and commitment to peace, saying former President Olusegun Obasanjo joined in escorting Koroma back to Freetown.
This, according to her, Nigeria remained committed to regional harmony, constitutional order and democratic stability, expressing confidence that Koroma’s return would further strengthen national reconciliation and peace in Sierra Leone. (NAN)
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