Faure Eyadéma in Nigeria, Discusses Zimbabwe with Buhari

Presidents Eyadéma and Buhari. Source/State House, Abuja

Faure Eyadéma in Nigeria, Discusses Zimbabwe with Buhari

Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari today received President of Togo, Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé Eyadéma at the State House in Abuja.

Although official sources did not disclose the reason for the visit, this newspaper learned that the meeting was connected with political crisis in Zimbabwe.

Buhari has been concerned about the recent happenings in Zimbabwe. He called for calm and urged the people of Zimbabwe to use constitutional means to resolve the crisis.

A source close to the Presidency said Eyadema and Buhari spoke about Robert Mugabe and Zimbabwe but our source declined to speak further on the outcome of the visit.

The Togolese politician has been the President of Togo since 2005 at the death of his father. Prior to his election, he was appointed by his father, President Gnassingbé Eyadéma, as Minister of Equipment, Mines, Posts, and Telecommunications, serving from 2003 to 2005.

Following President Eyadéma’s death in 2005, Gnassingbé was immediately installed as President with support from the army. Doubts regarding the constitutional legitimacy of the succession led to heavy regional pressure being placed on Gnassingbé, and he subsequently resigned on 25 February. He then won a controversial presidential election on 24 April 2005, and was sworn in as President. Gnassingbé was re-elected for a second term in 2010.

Zimbabwe Parliamentarians have begun the process to impeach 93-year-old long-time President Robert Mugabe after he refused to bulge to resignation.

Speaker Jacob Mudenda said the motion to impeach Mugabe was raised on Tuesday as thousands of protesters rallied outside parliament in Harare, demanding that Mugabe quit.

The ousted Vice President, Emmerson Mnangagwa as well as the ruling party, ZANU-PF have also called for president to resign.

Mugabe impeachment motion includes charges that he abused his authority to position his wife, Grace Mugabe, as his successor. Mugabe had demonstrated that he would appoint his wife as vice president after he fired popular military hero Mnangagwa two weeks ago.