Tag: Presidential Visit

Why Buhari Did Not Attend South East Economic And Security Summit

South-East Economic and Security SummitThe Presidency has denied reports that President Muhammadu Buhari snubbed the recent South-East Economic and Security Summit in Enugu.

His Spokesperson, Mr Garba Shehu on Friday, released a statement he described as the accurate account, contrary to media reports alleging that President Muhammadu Buhari deliberately ignored the event.

“The President was presented with a request to attend the Economic and Security Summit by the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu.

“The President happily accepted. The visit to Enugu was scheduled for Thursday 22nd as can be found on the weekly programme.

“After this was done, some other stakeholders from the South East came and advised him to not go in view of the closeness of the date to Christmas; that given the sensitivity of the period to the people, a presidential visit may come with overexertion and possibly, be disruptive of Christmas.

“In view of this, President Buhari requested that the event be pushed forward to January, 2017. Given his nature, he did not insist. He said if the change of date is not possible, then the event can go on without him. That is what the organizers chose to do.

“The President did not, and he absolutely has no reason to snub anyone,” Mr Shehu stated.

African countries should focus on global exports — Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has challenged African countries to become globally competitive and begin exporting finished products to the outside world.

President Jonathan said this while speaking to the outgoing Ugandan High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Christopher Onyango Aparr, in the Presidential Villa.

President Jonathan said economic growth was necessary for political stability and added that Nigeria was focused on building and strengthening mutually beneficial economic relations with Uganda and Africa.

The President commended Mr. Aparr for sustaining the warm brotherly relations between Nigeria and Uganda, and wished him well in his next post.

Earlier, the outgoing Ugandan High Commissioner thanked President Jonathan for Nigeria’s assistance through the Technical Aid Corps, as well as the strong bilateral and multilateral cooperation between the two countries.

At a different audience, President Jonathan commended Turkey for assisting Nigeria in developing human capacity through the establishment of schools in the country.

The President was speaking to the outgoing Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Ali Rifat Koksal.