President Muhammadu Buhari, who arrived in New York to attend the UN General Assembly, was absent during the discussion on security and terrorism issues with the countries located within the Lake Chad Basin. The Nigerian president’s decision not to appear at the meeting has apparently received negative media attention.
Representatives of the UN, Chad, Niger and Cameroon met on Friday to discuss security and terrorism issues in the Chad Basin area, including the Boko Haram menace. Sahara Reporters, however, learnt that Nigeria was not represented at the meeting which was organized on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
The UN and international diplomats were reportedly critical on President Buhari’s decision not to represent his country at the meeting and not to use the opportunity to hold multilateral talks between the UN member countries.
The Nigerian Mission to the UN was also reportedly alarmed at the negative media attention Buhari’s absence recieved.
Speaking to Sahara Reporters, a source maintained that at least Nigeria’s national security adviser and member of the 27-man delegation that accompanied Buhari to New York, Major General (Rtd) Monguno, should have attended the meeting.
When asked about the development, Buhari’s spokesman said: “We have been part of many meetings about this Boko Haram issue, including those with [the UN Aid Chief] Stephen O’Brien.”
The spokesman said that President Buhari has been part of many meetings and that there are far more meetings than he would be able to attend.
“We are offering a rebuttal to [those news stories] and want to say the President has shown a commitment to addressing security issues,” the spokesman added.
On Friday, the United States pledged to provide $6.8 million in funding for the Chad Basin region.
The post New York: Diplomats Criticise Buhari’s Absence From UN Meeting On Security, Terrorism appeared first on Nigeria News today & Breaking news | Read on NAIJ.COM.
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