Politics
Buhari Cancels Trip To AU Meeting In Rwanda
President Muhammadu Buhari Saturday abruptly cancelled his scheduled trip to Kigali, Rwanda on Monday where he had been billed to join other African leaders to sign the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) agreement on Wednesday in pursuit of the African Union (AU) 2063 vision.
There was no official information on the reason for the cancellation saturday as some members of the president’s advance team had already arrived Kigali before the cancellation while others were yet at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport when information on the cancellation got to them.
Confirming the cancellation last night, a member of the second team told THISDAY that he was just alighting in his house from the vehicle which conveyed him from the airport. According to him, they were suddenly recalled from the airport without any reason.
“I’m just coming down from the vehicle that brought me from the airport. No reason was given yet for the cancellation,” he said.
The sudden cancellation looked shocking in view of the celebration of the planned trip by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday.
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, while briefing journalists in the State House, had said FEC approved in its meeting of Wednesday that Nigeria should sign the agreement, pointing out that the president would be in Kigali on Wednesday to sign the agreement.
He also said FEC resolved that Nigeria should bid for the location of the secretariat of CFTA in view of Nigeria’s outstanding roles during the negotiation process.
“In terms of what was approved in council today, the council approved for Nigeria to sign that agreement establishing CFTA in Kigali on March 21 which will be signed by our president at an extraordinary session of the AU. It also approved for Nigeria to express an interest in preparing a bid to host the secretariat where the work will be done.
“Nigeria has played a leadership role in the negotiations. Our chief negotiator and director-general of the Nigerian office for trade negotiations was the chairperson of the negotiating technical team.
“Also the African Ministers for Trade and Group was chaired by myself and so, if they played a leading role in this negotiation, we feel that it is better to lead than to follow. Therefore, we also got an approval to express an interest in the secretariat of CFTA, that the headquarters be located in Nigeria. Obviously, we are expecting it to be a competitive process but Nigeria will be interested.
“We also got an approval for the Nigerian office for trade negotiations along ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) and the private sector to work together and continue with the next stage of the negotiation. The first stage is the overall framework establishing CFTA. The next is the protocol on trade in goods and associated annexes; also a protocol on trade in services and finally, the protocol on rules and procedures for the settlement of disputes,” Enelamah said.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja congratulated Chinese President Xi Jinping on his re-election as the President of the Peoples Republic of China.
The president, according to his media adviser, personally signed a letter addressed to the Chinese president, praising him for his wisdom and vision.
“On behalf of the Government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I congratulate you most sincerely on your re-election as the President of the Peoples Republic of China.
“Your re-election is an indication of the trust and confidence reposed in you by the people of China on your ability to bring your vision and wisdom to bear in the conduct of national and global affairs,” he said in the letter.
The statement also said Buhari stated that he looked forward to increased cooperation between China and Nigeria on one hand and China and Africa on the other hand.
“It is my firm belief that your re-election will also bolster the existing mutually benefiting partnership between the Peoples Republic of China and Nigeria.
“I look forward to meeting Your Excellency at the forthcoming Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Summit in September 2018. I am confident that it will be a great success and good opportunity to draw up new levels of partnership between Africa and China,” he added
Anonymous
March 19, 2018 at 5:23 am
Is he afraid???
Anonymous
March 19, 2018 at 5:17 am
He is very stupid biafra or death
Anonymous
March 18, 2018 at 9:00 pm
fake man
Anonymous
March 18, 2018 at 8:51 pm
Kikiki,
Anonymous
March 18, 2018 at 8:41 pm
He can attend wedding but can’t attend au meeting
Anonymous
March 18, 2018 at 8:39 pm
HE IS NOT SERIOUS, HIS SINS MUST FIND HIM OUT.
Anonymous
March 18, 2018 at 8:05 pm
For them not to discover that he is not the real buhari
Anonymous
March 18, 2018 at 7:42 pm
JEBRIN OF SUDAN, CAN’T DISGRACE HIMSELF, BEFOR THE WORLD: BUHARI OF DAURA, IS NOMORE: UNLESS OBJ CAN REPRESENT THE BIRTISH ZOOLOGICAL REPUBLIC, CALLED NIGERIA:
Anonymous
March 18, 2018 at 7:25 pm
oso na eme. oso beligba .agbaru ghu egbe ra nchi. ?
Anonymous
March 18, 2018 at 6:19 pm
The signs of the end.
Anonymous
March 18, 2018 at 6:18 pm
Is cox dis man ur seein is nt buhari…he’s hiddin…
Anonymous
March 18, 2018 at 6:06 pm
I tink its better he sits down here dan to go dere & b promising 2 help dem fight corruption & terrorism
Anonymous
March 18, 2018 at 9:35 pm
Very Funny
Anonymous
March 18, 2018 at 6:00 pm
Terrorist masquerading as president only in the Zoo.
Anonymous
March 18, 2018 at 5:12 pm
That is to show u that buhari is already dead
Anonymous
March 18, 2018 at 5:00 pm
Hahahahahaha…
See fear nah. IPOB, ndi oma!
Anonymous
March 18, 2018 at 4:53 pm
Buhari and his Fulani headsmen terrorist group are slaughtering innocent people
Anonymous
March 18, 2018 at 4:22 pm
You can run but can’t hide buhari this is Ipob
Anonymous
March 18, 2018 at 4:14 pm
terrorist in charge
Anonymous
March 18, 2018 at 3:19 pm
Hm
Anonymous
March 18, 2018 at 1:48 pm
Fear of taken into custody and jail straight
Anonymous
March 18, 2018 at 11:30 am
Ha ha obviously Jubril and the presidency are not happy with unbiased ACHPR ruling on IPOB favor.
Anonymous
March 18, 2018 at 10:30 am
Evil Man
Anonymous
March 18, 2018 at 10:19 am
What are his reasons. Let it not be because of IPOB case.rubbish
Anonymous
March 18, 2018 at 10:06 am
This is just the beginning
Anonymous
March 18, 2018 at 10:05 am
No time to lecture him on the lies to tell over there, and the fear of IPOB is the beginning of wisdom. Why is he running away??? Go and answer query on the killings by ur tribes men.
Anonymous
March 18, 2018 at 9:58 am
So many things are abnormal in this country
Anonymous
March 18, 2018 at 9:54 am
THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING… YOU CAN RUN BUT YOU CAN NEVER HIDE….
Anonymous
March 18, 2018 at 9:50 am
Maybe he have another welding to atend
Anonymous
March 18, 2018 at 9:39 am
So Almighty Buhari is afraid of IPOB and small boy NNAMDI KANU well time will tell.
Anonymous
March 18, 2018 at 9:32 am
Nigeria is a graveyard and must destroied
Anonymous
March 18, 2018 at 9:10 am
The buffoon has ran away to avoid AU embarrassment about IPOB and KANU whereabout.
Anonymous
March 18, 2018 at 9:07 am
Curse b any one who in one way or another contributed in d senseless killings of innocent and armless BIAFRANS, n all the people shall say amen iseeeeee ooooooooooo. God CHUKWUOKIKE ABIAMA JEHOVAH, d creator of d heaven’s n d earth bless BIAFRA IPOB n our great leader MAZI NNAMDI KANU. Nigeria, is cursed beyond REDEMPTIONS.
Anonymous
March 18, 2018 at 9:06 am
MAYBE THEY HV ASKED HIM NT TO COME BCOZ ANYWHERE HE GO THEY MUST HV PROBLEM.
Anonymous
March 18, 2018 at 9:04 am
Nnamdi KANU have Destroy d zoo
Anonymous
March 18, 2018 at 9:04 am
Lol hfar zoo