President Muhammadu Buhari, Thursday, received the outgoing Ambassador of Senegal, Babacar Matar Ndiaye, in a farewell audience at State House, Abuja, asking him to convey the congratulations of Nigeria to President Macky Sall on the victory of the Teranga Lions at the just concluded Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, disclosed this in a press statement issued in Abuja.
“I’m sending the congratulations reluctantly, because our own country got beaten in the tournament,” Buhari jocularly told Ambassador Babacar Matar Ndiaye.
The President, according to Adesina, lauded the Ambassador for a successful tour of duty in Nigeria, which lasted almost four years, and observed that “our relationship is very strong. I congratulate your President for keeping the country together. Please extend my best wishes to him.”
President Buhari also wished the outgoing Ambassador success in his next tour of duty.
In his response, Ambassador Ndiaye said Nigeria was like a second home to him, having first served in the consular section of his Embassy, before he came back as Ambassador for almost four years.
“Thanks for the success of my term. I will always have good memories of Nigeria,” Ambassador Ndiaye said.
