The Presidency yesterday justified President Muhammadu Buharis decision to travel to Dakar, Senegal, to attend the International Development Association (IDA) for Africa Union (AU) Summit.
The President has been under attack over his decision to travel out of the country despite its daunting security challenges.
Recall that terrorists attacked a convoy of cars carrying the advance team of security guards, protocol and media officers near Dutsinma, in Katsina State, ahead of the Presidents trip to Daura for Sallah on Tuesday, which left two persons injured.
However, the Presidency, while reacting to mounting criticism on the trip via an issued press statement, described the shooting incident as sad and unwelcome. Fielding a question on the incidents, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said shelving the scheduled trip would tantamount to surrendering to the whims and caprices of the terrorists.
Besides, Boko Haram terrorists launched a ferocious attack on Kuje Correctional Centre on Tuesday night, deploying bombs, Rocket-Propelled Grenade (RPG) and General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG), freeing no less than 600 inmates, including Boko Haram fighters detained at the facility. 6 inmates and one security personnel were killed during the attack. An eyewitness had said that a protocol officer from the presidency and a woman were the two persons that sustained injuries in the attack.
Both incidents coming barely a few hours prior to Buharis departure has prompted a public outcry, describing the President as insensitive to the peoples insecurity predicament.
At the High-Level event slated for today, Thursday, and hosted by President Macky Sall, of the Republic of Senegal, President Buhari is expected to join other African leaders in an open Dialogue on Development Challenges and Priorities as well as Transformational Initiatives that will lead to an outcome document, the Dakar Declaration.
Topics slated for discussion include: ‘Financing for Recovery and Economic Transformation in Africa’; ‘Agriculture, Livestock and Food Security’; ‘Human Capital’; ‘Digital and Technological Innovation’; and ‘Energy Transition and Climate Change’.
The President will be accompanied on the trip by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Geoffery Onyeama; Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed; as well as Industry, Trade and Investment, Adeniyi Adebayo. Others on the entourage are: the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele; Director-General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), and Amb. Ahmed Rufai Abubakar; Director-General, Debt Management Office, Patience Oniha, and the Managing Director of the Bank of Industry, Olukayode Pitan.
President Buhari is expected back in the country at the end of the Summit today, Thursday.
