Bianca, Obasanjo Escort Ex-Sierra Leone President Koroma Back to Freetown

<p><strong>Nigeria&&num;8217&semi;s minister of Foreign Affairs&comma; Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu&comma; and former President Olusegun Obasanjo have escorted former Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma back to Freetown&comma; following more than two years of temporary relocation to Nigeria&period;<&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Koroma’s return was facilitated by the Nigerian Government as part of a regional diplomatic and confidence-building process aimed at promoting peace&comma; stability and political understanding in Sierra Leone&period;<&sol;p><p class&equals;"ari-link"><strong>Read also&colon;<&sol;strong> <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;sparknewsdaily&period;com&period;ng&sol;frsc-orders-probe-into-otedola-bridge-tanker-inferno-blames-excessive-speed&sol;">FRSC Orders Probe into Otedola Bridge Tanker Inferno&comma; Blames Excessive Speed<&sol;a><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Odumegwu-Ojukwu&comma; who accompanied Koroma to Freetown on the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu&comma; said his return marked the successful conclusion of the process&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>She said Koroma’s relocation to Nigeria in January 2024 followed engagements by the Economic Community of West African States &lpar;ECOWAS&rpar; aimed at promoting peace&comma; stability and political understanding in Sierra Leone&period;<&sol;p><p class&equals;"ari-link"><strong>Read also&colon;<&sol;strong> <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;sparknewsdaily&period;com&period;ng&sol;first-lady-receives-birthday-greetings-as-apc-celebrates-her-at-66&sol;">First Lady Receives Birthday Greetings as APC Celebrates Her at 66<&sol;a><&sol;p><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>According to the minister&comma; the process helped create conditions for greater understanding between President Julius Maada Bio and the former president&comma; paving the way for Koroma’s temporary stay in Nigeria&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>&OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;His conduct throughout this period reflected restraint&comma; statesmanship&comma; and commitment to a peaceful outcome&comma;” Odumegwu-Ojukwu said&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>The minister noted that sustained engagements involving ECOWAS&comma; the Nigerian Government and other stakeholders during Koroma’s stay in Nigeria contributed to resolving the issues that had necessitated his relocation&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p class&equals;"ari-link"><strong>Read also&colon;<&sol;strong> <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;sparknewsdaily&period;com&period;ng&sol;air-force-jet-crash-fallen-personnel-represents-commitment-to-national-service-noa&sol;">Air Force Jet Crash&colon; Fallen personnel represents commitment to national service &&num;8211&semi; NOA<&sol;a><&sol;p><p>She expressed appreciation to President Bio&comma; former President Koroma and the people of Sierra Leone for their cooperation and commitment to peace&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Odumegwu-Ojukwu reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to regional harmony&comma; constitutional order and democratic stability&comma; expressing confidence that Koroma’s return would further strengthen national reconciliation and peace in Sierra Leone&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;