Presidency on Monday urged Nigerians to disregard rumors of harassment of President Muhammmadu Buhari in Japan by members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)
A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, on Monday , said “proscribed (IPOB) group has had nothing to do with President Muhammadu Buhari since he arrived Yokohama, Japan, on Monday.
The statement therefore, advised Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora to disregard “ the concocted stories, backed with spurious visuals, of any protest or harassment of the President and his team”
Adesina described the allegations as “the stock-in-trade of hate mongers, who do not realize that the rest of Nigerians have left them far behind”
President Buhari, he said, will make his presence at the Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD7) count for Nigeria, adding that “no scare-mongering or sabre-rattling will detract from the outing.”
President Buhari and his delegation who arrived Yokohama, Japan since on Sunday, is expected to push for broader Japanese assistance in the areas of science and technology, innovation, human resource development, education, agriculture, power, health and disaster risk reduction, among others.
With the theme, “Africa and Yokohama, Sharing Passion for the Future,” the Opening Session of TICAD7 will be performed by the Japanese Prime Minister and host, Shinzo Abe.
President Buhari will deliver Nigeria’s Statement during Plenary Session Three in which he will appraise Nigeria-Japan relations and takeaways from TICAD6.
He will also attend a State Banquet and also honour the invitation of Emperor Naruhito to a Tea Reception at the Imperial Palace, Tokyo.
In addition to a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Abe, the Nigerian President will also attend some side-events and meet chief executive officers of some Japanese companies with huge investments in Nigeria.
Formed in 1993, the now triennial TICAD, which has been convened alternately in Japan and Africa since TICAD6, according to the organisers, is the largest international conference held in Japan which “provides an open forum that generates innovative discussion among various stakeholders on African development.”
Participants are drawn not only from African countries, but also international organisations, private companies and civil society organisations involved in development.
TCAD7 is expected to focus on Africa’s “economic transformation and improvements in business environment and institution through private investment and innovation; promotion of resilient and sustainable African society for human security; and peace and stability in support of Africa’s domestic proactive efforts.”
Nigeria has gained tremendously since her participation in TICAD6 at the highest level, during which Japan pledged $30 billion investment “for the future of Africa combined with the private sector;” $10 billion infrastructure investment, and $500 million for vocational training of 50,000 Africans.
On the President’s delegation are Governors Babagana Zulum, AbdulRaham AbdulRazaq and Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Borno, Kwara and Lagos States respectively; ministers and other top government officials.
Tony Ailemen, Abuja
