Pastor Tunde Bakare
| credits: www.larascopy.com
| credits: www.larascopy.com
The final decision on those who
will make the delegation of President Muhammadu Buhari to the United
States and other logistics on the impending trip will be taken on
Tuesday, The PUNCH has learnt.
Buhari is scheduled to meet with President Barack Obama on July 20 at the White House.
The parley is expected to feature Nigeria’s current fight against the Boko Haram sect among other issues.
There are reports that Buhari will be
accompanied by five state governors, including Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo
State; Rochas Okorocha, Imo State; Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State; and
two others when he meets Obama in Washington, DC on July 20, 2015.
Lagos pastor, Tunde Bakare, and former
member of the House of Representatives, Farouk Adamu, were also said to
have been pencilled in as part of the delegation to US.
But the Special Adviser to the President
on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, told our correspondent on
Sunday that preparations for the trip were still ongoing.
Adesina said final decision on the size
of the delegation and its nature would be taken on Tuesday at a meeting
of those saddled with the responsibility of organising a hitch-free trip
for the President and his entourage.
He said, “The programme for the US trip will be unfolded on Tuesday. Whatever is written now is still speculative.
“When the programme is unfolded on Tuesday, I am sure the number of people on the President’s entourage will also be known.
“Tuesday is the final planning meeting for the journey.”
The President is usually accompanied by
government officials, including state governors, who by virtue of their
status have something to do with issues to be discussed during such
foreign trips.
The White House had earlier issued a
statement, saying Obama would discuss “a holistic approach to combating
Boko Haram” with Buhari during the meeting.
The statement added that advancing
economic and political reforms in Nigeria would also be discussed
between senior government advisers from both countries during the visit.
Buhari had on Wednesday met with the US
Deputy Secretary of State, Mr. Anthony J. Blinken, inside the
Presidential Villa, Abuja and expressed the hope that his forthcoming
meeting with Obama would further strengthen bilateral ties between
Nigeria and the US.
Copyright PUNCH.
No comments:
Post a Comment