President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday met with the President of Mali, Muhammadou Keita in continuation of consultations to solve the problems of insurgency in Northern Mali and North-Eastern Nigeria.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was held behind closed doors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Addressing State House Correspondents after the meeting, Keita: “I have come to meet my brother on the issue of insecurity, to see what we can do, that is why I am here.”
It will be recalled that Jonathan, Keita and other ECOWAS leaders had met on the same issue in Accra, Ghana on Friday.
The President also met with some clerics from Senegal led by Khalifah Sheikh Ahmad Tijjani Inyass, the grandson of Late Shehu Tijjani Ibrahim Inyass, the founder of the Tijjaniya sect.
The clerics came on the invitation of Jonathan who is under increasing pressure from within and outside the country over the abducted Chibok school girls, and spate of killings by the Boko Haram sect.
The group of clerics, numbering about 10, met with the President for about an hour, during which they offered prayers for peace and stability in Nigeria.
Their spokesman, Ahmed Awwalu described the meeting as historic, saying that former Nigerian leaders, Yakubu Gowon and Late JTU Aguiyi-Ironsi had also invited the sect to pray for the country in the past.
“It is a historic visit because it had been done by his father with the then Presidents, Gen. Yakubu Gowon and Gen. Aguyi Ironsi, so history is repeating itself.
“We came for the Maulud of Ibrahim Inyass in Gombe and on our way home, the President requested for a courtesy visit and our Shehu granted it.
“We must come together, all Muslims and non-Muslims to achieve peaceful coexistence; we must pray so that we can all fight this insecurity in the country,” he said.
Other members of the group include Sheikh Makky Inyass, Sheikh Mansur Inyass, Sheikh Ahmad Inyass, Sheikh Bashir Inyass, Mustapha Inyass.
Others were Abdullahi Maigemu, Sheikh Ibrahim Dahiru-Bauchi, Aliyu Ibrahim, Khalifah Shehu and Nasiru Hamisu.
Also present at the meeting were Vice-President Namadi Sambo, Chief of Staff to the President, Brig- General Jones Arogbofa (rtd), Head of Service, Bukar Goni-Aji and some ministers. (NAN)
