WE HAD TO MOBILISE THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO ENSURE EDGAR LUNGU CONCEDES DEFEAT TO AVOID LOSS OF LIVES – NIGERIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER
By Edwin Mbulo in Kazungula
WE had to mobilise the international community to make sure that Lungu (Edgar) concedes because there was no need to waste Zambians’ lives, Nigerian High Commissioner to Zambia Nwanne Ominyi Eze has told Senior Chief Mukuni.
And High Commissioner Eze says despite ending apartheid, Zambia and Nigeria which fought the system are now faced with another form of apartheid in the name of poverty and hunger.
He noted that the defeat of the PF in 2021 came in with enormous expectations among Zambians.
Speaking when he paid a courtesy on Mukuni at his Lumpasa Palace, High Commissioner Eze said God destined Zambia to be a great nation because of two factors; peace and Godliness.
“Each time I have an opportunity to interact with leaders, I always tell them of the two, especially the peace. I ask; do you know why your neighbours are in conflict and you are not? That is a divine factor. A divine factor and today most investors are looking where their investment is going to be safe. Very soon Zambia will be receiving investors if you keep that peace,” he said.
“That is why we the international community put in ways to make sure that Lungu concedes because we saw that there was near resistance. So we had to mobilise all international forces to conclude that the election results were clean, so there is no need going to waste the lives of Zambians.”
High Commissioner Eze said Nigeria would not hesitate to help Zambia if it applies for technical assistance from that nation.
He noted that Zambia had not applied for technical aid under that country’s Technical Aid Corporation.
“Zambia and Nigeria’s relations go back to the days of apartheid. We have a very good comradeship in the fight against apartheid and today we are happy that none of our soil is under the control of foreign powers. So we intend not to stop there. Yes, quite aright, apartheid has gone but we have some form of apartheid in disguise attacking our people, which is poverty and our two countries must close ranks just as before to see that we as well defeat poverty, hunger and sickness,” High Commissioner Eze said.
He appealed to Mukuni to maintain peace as a traditional leader saying: “it was the most valuable asset.”
Mukuni responded that, “needless to say we thank your ex-president Obasanjo (Olusegun), he did a lot.”
High Commissioner Eze informed Mukuni that he visited the Victoria Falls on Sunday and when he sent the pictures to the tourism officials in Nigeria, they informed him that the spectacle was far better than what Nigerians see in Canada in reference to the Niagara Falls.
He promised to engage Livingstone mayor Constance Muleabai so as to attract Nigerians to visit Livingstone.
“Nigeria has a population of 200 million and many visit Europe as tourists but if Zambia can attract about 25 per cent of what goes out, this country can gain. So we need to close ranks so that we showcase what I found in your kingdom. I pledge the wiliness of the government of Nigeria in whatever terms including investments to see to it that the status of Livingstone is taken to the next appropriate level,” High Commissioner Eze said.
He said he was a fan of President Hakainde Hichilema because he was a promoter of African brotherhood and was keen on seeing increased trade and investments among African countries.
On his part, Mukuni said he was humbled by the High Commissioner’s visit.
He joked that he had a myth that Nigeria was sophisticated in that it was easy to get in and very difficult to get out alive.
“I have now cleared it (myth) after one of our chiefs went to Nigeria and come back alive,” chief Mukuni joked amidst laughter from the High Commissioner’s delegation which include former Kasama member of parliament Kelvin Sampa.
Earlier, when he paid a courtesy call on Livingstone mayor Muleabai at her parlour, High Commissioner Eze said President Hakainde and his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari have similar experiences in that they had contested elections several times before winning.
“Buhari did contest in many elections until 2015 when God’s time and purpose came in and the government had no option but to concede. That is why we want the government of President Hakainde to succeed because we know when the opposition defeats the government in power, it comes with enormous expectations and please let the government of the UPND know that the government of Nigerian will give it necessary support,” High Commissioner Eze said.
“I would like to congratulate you on your victory…finally Zambians spoke and they spoke very clearly, congratulations,” High Commissioner Eze said. “President Hakainde Hichilema always talks about African brotherhood, we should improve ourselves and trade in our territories.”
Muleabai informed the High Commissioner that it was not easy for the UPND to emerge victorious adding that women candidate had a lot of challenges.
She said President Hichilema had placed importance on unity and peace and that he does not look at a person’s place of origin
She urged foreign nationals in Zambia to be free and just mention their names instead of saying: “I am Nigerian.”
She informed High Commissioner Eze that the council was open to investment in many areas in the city and would be glad to receive Nigerian investors as this would enhance job creation.