By Abiola Olawale
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday held a meeting with his counterpart, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the need to deepen bilateral relations.
The meeting which came after the inauguration of Ramaphosa for his second term as the president of South Africa was aimed at discussing ways to strengthen the economic and trade ties between the two regional powers.
Ramaphosa visited Tinubu in his hotel in Pretoria in the early hours of Thursday.
Addressing a press conference after the meeting, Ramaphosa said he decided to pay a visit to Tinubu to appreciate him for attending his inauguration.
The South African president also revealed that both himself and Tinubu’s discussed matters that would strengthen bilateral relationship between the two countries.
Ramaphosa said: “I’m honoured and privileged to have President Tinubu attend my inauguration yesterday. It lifted my spirits and that of South Africans as a whole that the President of Africa’s biggest nation will attend our inauguration. I have come to pay my deepest respects to him and also discuss matters that unite both of our countries.”
Speaking also during the press conference, Tinubu said: “Our discussions focused on strengthening cooperation and enhancing the economic ties between Nigeria and South Africa,” Tinubu said after the meeting.
The New Diplomat reports that the meeting came in the wake of Ramaphosa’s inauguration and claims of the South African leader snubbing Tinubu at the event.
Ramaphosa was sworn in on Wednesday after he secured a second term through a coalition agreement between the African National Congress (ANC) and other parties.
