President departs for New York after meeting with Kano, Borno, Sokoto state governors

President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday departed for New York for 72nd Session of the United Nation General Assembly after meeting behind closed doors with the governors of Borno (Kashim Shettima), Kano (Abdullahi Ganduje) and Sokoto states (Aminu Tambuwal) in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Femi Adesina, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity confirmed the departure of President Buhari to New York, through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

“President Buhari departs Abuja to New York for 72nd Session of the United Nation General Assembly on Sept. 17, 2017.),” Adesina posted on his Facebook page.

Buhari will join other world leaders at the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 72), and will, during the visit, participate in the General Debate where he was expected to deliver the country’s National Statement.

The theme of this year’s Debate is: “Focusing on People: Striving for Peace and a Decent Life for All on a Sustainable Planet.”

Buhari would also join other world leaders at the welcoming reception to be hosted by the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres.

The Nigerian leader would also hold a bilateral meeting with the UN scribe as well as a lunch meeting with President Donald Trump of the United States of America, along with other world leaders.

The president, is being accompanied by the governors of Zamfara, Ebonyi and Ondo States as well as key cabinet ministers, and will transit through London on his way back to the country. The reason for his London trip is not yet known.

Meanwhile, Imam Liman, the Special Adviser to the Sokoto State governor on Media, confirmed Buhari”s meeting with the governors in Abuja.

It was gathered that the governors may have briefed the President on some critical national issues, particularly the security situations in their respective states.

Borno state governor, Shettima, who is also the chairman of the Northern State governors’ forum, had in a statement issued in Maiduguri, lauded the residents of the region for keeping the peace in the face of the recent clashes between members of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and soldiers in some parts of the South East region.

“No Nigerian deserves to be punished for the mere fact that he or she happens to be living or doing legitimate business in any part of the country,’’ Shettima was quoted in the statement.

 

Onyinye Nwachukwu, Abuja