Buhari sends Onyeama to Guinea Bissau with $500,000 for election

Geoffrey Onyeama Nigeria Minister of Foreign Affairs

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, to undertake an ‘urgent’ mission to Guinea Bissau.

Mr Onyeama is to represent the president as his special envoy in the company of the President of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Jean-Claude Brou.

Spokesman of the president, Garba Shehu, made this known in a statement on Twitter on Friday.

He wrote: “In his capacity as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State, PMB, this morning, directed the Minister of Foreign Affairs, @GeoffreyOnyeama to undertake an urgent mission as his Special Envoy to Guinea Bissau, in the company of ECOWAS President, Jean-Claude Brou.”

Buhari, who is on a 10-day private visit to the United Kindgom, approved a donation of $500,000 to the country, along with 350 units of electoral kits, ten motorcycles, five Hilux vans, and two light trucks.

Mr Shehu also said that Onyeama would go on a mission to Cotonou, Benin, to deliver a personal message to President Patrice Talon from Buhari.

“In a separate development, Nigeria’s Foreign Minister will also undertake a mission to Cotonou, Benin, to deliver a personal message to President Patrice Talon from President Buhari.

“The visit is in the context of the brewing political crisis ahead of April 28, 2019, legislative elections in the country,” Shehu said.