CHADIAN PRESIDENT, IDRIS DEBY VISITS BUHARI AS HE PREPARES FOR LIFE-PRESIDENCY

President of Chad, Idriss Deby, on Saturday, met with the leader of the Nigerian Junta Muhammadu Buhari, in Aso Villa, Abuja.

Deby’s visit is happening just a few weeks before presidential elections in Chad, scheduled to take place on April 11.

Deby, a 68-year-old former army chief who has been in power for 30 years, is seeking to be re-elected in the poll. He has since banned protests by opposition parties who have criticised his re-election.

In a statement on Saturday, the Nigerian Presidency, however, did not state whether Deby’s visit was connected to his re-election in April.

The Nigerian Presidency said Buhari and Deby “discussed bilateral issues ranging from security to the recharging of Lake Chad”.

It quoted Buhari as saying, “It is imperative that there be water transfer to the Lake Chad from the Congo Basin, so that the people can resume their normal lives.”null

The Nigerian Presidency added that Buhari said with inter-basin water transfer, farming, fishing, animal husbandry would resume, and curtail irregular migration of youths, who now dare the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea, to get into Europe, seeking greener pastures.

“I’ve been engaging with the relevant stakeholders in Africa and beyond, on why we need to recharge Lake Chad. Nigeria will benefit more, but it is also advantageous to everyone,” the Presidency further quoted Buhari as saying.