Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday visited jailed Zambian opposition leader, Hakainde Hichilema in prison.

Obasanjo, who visited Hichilema at the Mukobeko Maximum Security Prison after obtaining permission from President Edgar Lungu said his visit was to show his commitment towards ensuring peace and stability in Africa.

“I am happy that His Excellency allowed me to visit and I had a two-hour discussion with the opposition leader. I get an impression from the opposition leader that 2016 is no longer an issue but about what happens in the future and how we can do things better,” Obasanjo told newsmen shortly after the visit.

The ex-Nigerian leader, who later met with President Lungu, said he sees the gap between the two antagonists narrowing and signalling that the country was moving towards the right direction and ensuring that the ugly events of 2016 were put behind.

Hichilema was arrested in April and charged with treason for allegedly blocking the motorcade of President Lungu who has insisted that the justice system in the country will take its full course against Hichilema and anyone who goes against the law.