Ex-President visits Ebola-hit countries

monjola sotubo

February 23, 2015 8:45 AM

Obasanjo arrived in Conakry, the Guinean capital on Thursday, February 19, and was received by President Alpha Conde.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has paid a visit to the three West African counties which were the worst-hit by the current Ebola outbreak.

Obasanjo arrived in Conakry, the Guinean capital on Thursday, February 19, and was received by President Alpha Conde.

The former Nigerian President stated that he had made the visit to commiserate with the people of Guinea and congratulate the government on its efforts to combat the disease.

“True friendship is tested in times of trials. I am here because this is a trying time for my brother and the people of Guinea. I commiserate with you and also congratulate you for the way and manner you have handled this crisis,” Obasanjo said.

“Let me assure you that I am personally involved in mobilising support for the affected countries. I have been working closely with the African Union chairperson to raise funds from the private sector in Africa to support efforts to eradicate Ebola,” he added.

President Conde expressed gratitude at Obasanjo’s visit saying that it came as no surprise because the former leader had always been a Pan-Africanist.

“Your visit here, therefore, comes as no surprise to me and it reinforces the friendship we have shared over the years,” Conde said.

Obasanjo also met with President Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone who thanked Nigeria’s former leader for his statesmanship.

The former President also paid a visit to the Western Area Emergency Response Centre in Freetown where he witnessed health workers’ efforts against the disease and from there proceeded to Liberia where he met with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf at her office in Monrovia.

The current Ebola outbreak has been described as the worst ever recorded but is expected to fade out completely by June 2015.

Nigeria was declared Ebola-free on October 20, 2014.

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