President Bola Tinubu praised the Finnish government for apprehending and detaining Simon Ekpa, the self-proclaimed leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Tinubu addressed on Friday at the State House after receiving a letter of credence from Sanna Selin, the Finnish ambassador to Nigeria.
The president warned his government will not accept acts and remarks that could lead to divisiveness among citizens.
“I must thank you for your record on safeguarding human rights in our country with the trial of Simon Ekpa. Nigeria is indivisible,” Tinubu told Selin.
“We have been through turbulent times, and we don’t want to promote terrorism.
“I am a child born into activism, but not divisiveness. We need cohesion and cooperation to bring about development.
“Our watchword is stability and cohesion to move the country forward.”
Tinubu said the intervention from the Finnish authorities safeguarded the nation’s integrity and mitigated an action that threatened peaceful coexistence.
“The national security adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has informed me. I know what the rule of law means,” the president said.
“The rule of law safeguards our democratic credentials, morals and values. We must respect the rule of law.”
Selin said Simon Ekpa hindered bilateral relations and noted that cooperation between Finland and Nigeria has now improved following Ekpa’s arrest.
” The national security adviser has been providing all the evidence,” the ambassador added.
Selin praised Tinubu’s economic reforms, citing Finland as a partner in energy security.
Tinubu also received letters of credence from the European Union’s (EU) ambassador, Gautier Mignot, and the Algerian ambassador, Hocine Mezoued.
The president emphasised that the EU remained one of Nigeria’s top commercial partners and urged the envoy to strengthen the relationship.
He also urged on Nigeria and Algeria to work together to complete the trans-Saharan African Gas Pipeline project.
