Nigeria’s Presidency has allayed fear over a reprisal attack on Ghana’s High Commission in Nigeria after the cruel demolition of Nigeria’s High Commission building in Accra.
Mallam Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, made this known on Wednesday while speaking with State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He said, rather, the case would be handled diplomatically.
His words: “The president of Ghana has called and regretted the action and apologised to the president of Nigeria.
“I think he has shown leadership in the matter and what should Nigeria do? These are two leading countries in West Africa.
“Nigeria will not engage in a street fight with Ghana. This cannot happen. So, the two leaders, especially President Muhammadu Buhari, who is much respected in Africa, they all call him ‘Baba’, so he is bound to show restraint.
“Matters such as this when they arise, it is always better when they arise, they should be resolved diplomatically.
“No, there should not be any fight between Nigeria and Ghana, this will not happen.”
A building was destroyed in the Nigerian High Commission in Ghana last week, an action which has been condemned.
However, Ghanaian president, Nana Akufo-Addo, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to apologise.
The apology was made public in a statement issued by Mr Ferdinand Nwonye, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Abuja.
The statement reads in part: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform that the President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, called President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, today, June 23, on the phone to express his sincere regrets and apology for the demolition of a building on the premises of the Nigerian High Commission in Accra, Ghana.
“He informed President Buhari that he had directed a full investigation of the unfortunate incident.
“It further emerged earlier in the day that some suspects had been arrested and will be arraigned in court.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on this note wish to call on Nigerians home and abroad to remain calm despite the highly provocative attack on the High Commission of Nigeria in Accra, Ghana.”