How stakeholders bungled Buhari’s visit to Southeast, by presidency
President Muhammadu Buhari
The Presidency last night gave reasons why President Muhammadu Buhari did not attend the Southeast Economic and Security Summit earlier scheduled to take place last Thursday in Enugu, Enugu State.
The Presidency yesterday said he was presented with a request to attend the Summit by Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, explaining that some stakeholders from the Southeast advised the President not to attend the programme in view of the closeness of the date to Christmas, and that a presidential visit, especially during the period, would come with over-exertion and possibly disrupt the season for the people of the area.
Specifically, a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, last night said: “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 organisers chose to do.
“The President did not, and he absolutely has no reason to snub anyone,” the statement said.
The media was awash with reports alleging that Buhari snubbed the scheduled Summit.
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2 Comments
If he could not attend, can he not also send a representative?
Actions speak louder than words.
Was their a representative and secondly is it a independent private initiative devoid of federal funding. If the second, then the are not liable to honour the Government request and the Presidency in this respect of democracy owes to send a representative. If not, it is a subtle way of the Government showing their demeanour of non support of the economic emancipation derive of the South East. The Government should be more sensitive in issues especially in this present National soul searching.
We will review and take appropriate action.