President Muhammadu Buhari has received a national honour for his “personal integrity and exemplary leadership”, conferred by the President of Equatorial Guinea, IBTimes UK reports. The Nigerian leader flew to Guinea on 14 March for a two-day visit to hold meetings with his counterpart, President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo.
The two leaders are expected to hold talks on maritime security to protect territories in the Niger Delta and the Gulf of Guinea. During his visit, Buhari, who took office in May 2015 defeating incumbent leader Goodluck Jonathan, received the Highest National Honour at the presidential palace in the capital Malabo.
The award was conferred on the Nigerian leader for “his personal integrity, exemplary leadership, style and courage to fight terrorism in order to ensure peace and safety in Africa,” Buhari’s spokesperson said in a statement.
During the investiture ceremony, Buharicalled on all African countries to come together and tackle common challenges.
“On behalf of my country, Nigeria, and the people, I will like to express profound gratitude for the honour given to me and my people. The reality of the situation now is that there had never been a time in history for greater neighbourliness, for security and economic stability than now,” he said.
Equatorial Guinea President Teodorin Obiang Nguema Mbasogo
President Mbasogo said it was an honour for his country to confer the award. “We are here to recognise the son of the soil. On this occasion, we deem it fit and appropriate to decorate the son of Africa for the great work he is doing in Africa, which includes tackling a great menace to the continent, Boko Haram, ” he said.
Meanwhile, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, the son of Equatorial Guinea’s President Teodoro is being hunted by the U.S. government for looting more than $70million from his own country according to the Daily Mail UK.
Mangue, 39, used his position as a government minister to siphon millions of dollars for personal use, according to two civil forfeiture complaints filed in Los Angeles and Washington D.C.
As part of an international collaboration to retrieve his fortune, the U.S. government is now trying to recover the $70million.
Teodorin Nguema Obiang, son of Equatorial Guinea’s President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, arrives at Malabo’s Cathedral to celebrate his birthday.
U.S. authorities believe the son of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema amassed more than $100million in various schemes while he served as the country’s forestry minister.
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