Former Presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf have met to promote peace and political stability in West African countries.

Ms Sirleaf disclosed this while speaking with journalists after her closed-door meeting with Mr Jonathan in Abuja.

She explained that the meeting was also to deepen already established initiatives to promote a smooth transition of power within the West Africa region, which was demonstrated by Jonathan and herself when they handed over power in their respective countries.

“The main purpose of this visit, besides re-establishing good contact with him (Jonathan) to promote the good relationship that we have. It is to discuss with him the West Africa Elders Forum, an initiative that he is promoting through the President Goodluck Jonathan Foundation,” said the former Liberian president. “The purpose of that is essentially to have former presidents of ECOWAS meet, to be able to promote democracy; promote safe political transition in our countries; to mitigate in those areas where there will be tensions in the society.”

Ms Sirleaf added that they also discussed issues on the ECOWAS Council of the Wise, an initiative chaired by Mr Jonathan.

“I think what he hopes to do is promote that initiative of ECOWAS to form some relationship between the two so that the effort is collaborative and collective to be able to address the issues,” Ms Sirleaf stated. “We have so many tensions in our countries today. We have elections coming up, and we all want to see the kind of smooth transitions that he ushered and which I also ushered to ensure peace and stability.”

The first elected female African president added that she briefed Mr Jonathan about her Centre For Women Development.

(NAN)