South-South Meeting: Buhari directed federal government officials to stay back

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South-South Meeting: Buhari directed federal government officials to stay back

The Nigeria Presidency led by Muhammadu Buhari has given reason Federal Government officials snubbed the meeting between the South South Governors and the leaders.

The presidency apologized for their absence towards the  South-South parley that top federal government officials were scheduled to attend.

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Governors and stakeholders left the venue in Rivers State after waiting for hours.

The leaders later demanded an apology.

In a statement on Wednesday, presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu said “an emergency meeting” summoned by the President caused the delay.

He said the Chief of Staff, Ibrahim Gambari, ministers and heads of security and intelligence agencies were in full readiness to proceed to Port-Harcourt.

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Garba disclosed that they had to stay back after Buhari’s directive.

He noted that the information and regret for the inconvenience were conveyed to the hosts “through what we believed were the right channels”.

“As may have been gleaned from the statement read by the Minister of Police Affairs, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, the extraordinary National Security Council meeting, under the President, was called in view of the gravity of the security situation affecting all parts of the country, including the South-South in the aftermath of the END SARS protests, and the need to rise to protect our national security and territorial integrity.’

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Garba assured that Buhari is strongly and resolutely committed to hearing from leaders, stakeholders and the youth on burning issues affecting Nigeria.

The aide added that a new date for the South-South meeting will be agreed after due consultations with parties concerned.

SOUTH-SOUTH ASSEMBLY DISRUPTED BY EMERGENCY SECURITY MEETING – PRESIDENCY

The Presidency wishes to explain that the absence of the federal government delegation at the planned meeting with governors and stakeholders of the South-South region was necessitated by an emergency security meeting summoned by the President, certainly not out of disrespect.
The delegation to the meeting, under the Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, ministers and heads of security and intelligence agencies were in full readiness to proceed to Port Harcourt until they were directed to stay back for the emergency security meeting.
This information and regret for the inconvenience caused were conveyed to the hosts of the meeting through what we believed were the right channels.
As may have been gleaned from the statement read by the Minister of Police Affairs, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, the extraordinary National Security Council meeting, under the President, was called in view of the gravity of the security situation affecting all parts of the country, including the South-South in the aftermath of the ENDSARS protests, and the need to rise to protect our national security and territorial integrity.
The President is strongly and resolutely committed to hearing from leaders, stakeholders and our youth on burning issues affecting all parts of the federation, and to this effect, a new date for the meeting with the South-South will be agreed after due consultations with the parties concerned.
Once again, the unavoidable postponement of the meeting is regretted.

 

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