Nigerian envoy discusses ‘issues of importance’ with President Jammeh

A special envoy of Nigerian President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan on Saturday held talks with President Yahya Jammeh at State House in Banjul.

Nurudeen Mohamed, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs was in Banjul to deliver a special message from President Goodluck Jonathan to President Yahya Jammeh.

After a closed-door meeting with the Gambian leader, the envoy told waiting journalists that Nigeria and The Gambia are strategic partners.

‘‘We have shared values and history; of course rule of law, democracy and good governance and also a history of sharing the same continent, culture, people-to-people contacts and contact at the highest level of the leadership of the two countries,’’ Mohamed said.

He told reporters that it was in that respect that Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan sent him to his “colleague and brother” President Yahya Jammeh to confer on some issues of importance to both countries.

‘‘The president was very receptive, he listened to the message from his colleague and brother and gave us assurances of doing his best under the circumstances,’’ he stated.

Commenting on the relations between Abuja and Banjul, the Nigerian envoy said Nigeria and The Gambia cannot meet without discussing bilateral issues.

‘‘In fact, by Nigeria coming to The Gambia that is already a bilateral issue of discussion, and we are very pleased and glad that Gambia is supporting the candidature of Nigeria for the 2013-2014 bi-annual non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council,’’ he added.

For this, he went on, the people of Nigeria are very grateful, and this would further cement the already existing brotherly relations between the two countries.