Paynesville, Monrovia – President George Manneh Weah has bestowed upon his Nigerian counterpart, President Muhammadu Buhari, one of Liberia’s highest national honors, at this year’s 172nd Independence Day Anniversary.
A release from the Liberian Embassy, Abuja says the Nigerian leader was one of the six Presidents from the West Africa region to grace independence celebrations.
President Weah bestowed on his Nigerian counterpart “The Grand Order of the Most Venerable Order of the Knighthood of the Pioneers of the Republic of Liberia, with the Grade of Knight Grand Cordon, with the Colar of State.” The colourful ceremony took place at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium in Paynesville, near Monrovia.
The honor is presented for outstanding and distinguished service in international affairs, government, religion, art, science or commerce, and also for singular acts of philanthropy and deeds of heroism and valor.
Other ECOWAS leaders, who also graced the occasion, were Presidents Alassane Dramane Ouattara of Cote d’Ivoire, Alpha Condé of Guinea, Macky Sall of Senegal, Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, and Roch Marc Christian Kabore of Burkina Faso.
According to the release, President Weah applauded his esteemed guests as ‘colleagues and big brothers’ from ECOWAS.
Delivering his Special Independence Day Message, the President said:
“Ladies and Gentlemen, I’m pleased to now ask you to rise as a gesture of respect, and give a whole-hearted welcome to each of our guests, my colleagues and big brothers from our Economic Community of West African States.”
President Weah said Liberians were greatly honored, and pleased, to welcome the six Heads of State, who had taken the time out of their busy schedules to join the People of Liberia in celebrating the Independence Anniversary.
“Excellencies, on behalf of my fellow citizens, and in my own name, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you sincerely, for this gesture of solidarity, goodwill and support for Liberia”, the Liberian Leader continued.
Since his inauguration in January of 2018, President Weah has paid three official visits to his Nigerian counterpart.
His first state visit was in March 2018. Subsequently, President Weah honored a special invitation from President Buhari to attend the festivities marking the latter’s inauguration for his second term on Nigeria’s ‘Democracy Day’ on June 12, 2019 in Abuja.
President Weah again had a tête-à-tête with President Buhari at State House in Abuja in the margins of the 55th Ordinary Summit of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government on June 29, 2019 in Abuja, the release concludes.
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