Buhari in Gambia for Talks with Jammeh

By Dipo Olowookere

President Muhammadu Buhari is already in the Gambia with other leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to have discussions with the country’s President, Mr Yahya Jammeh.

The Nigerian leader arrived Banjul, the Gambia capital, on Friday ahead of the talks.

The ECOWAS leaders hope to pressure Mr Jammeh to handover power to the President-elect, Mr Adama Barrow.

Mr Buhari and his crew were supposed to be in the small West African country on Wednesday, but Mr Jammeh asked for the meeting to be pushed to today.

If the talks become successful, Mr Jammeh will hand over power to Mr Barrow on Thursday, January 19, 2017.

Mr Barrow emerged winner of the December 1, 2016 election and President Jammeh had earlier accepted defeat, but later rescinded his decision, calling for a fresh poll.

Mr Jammeh has been in power for 22 years since seizing ousting the former government through a coup.