President Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday, December 22, shunned the maiden South-East Economic and Security Summit, held in Enugu State, after the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, threatened to kill the President on arrival, as they were ready to die along with him.
Buhari, who was slated as the Chief Guest of Honour at the Summit which held on Thursday, at the Enugu State Government House, was conspicuously missing, as neither him, nor any representative from his government was at the Summit.
Post-Nigeria however, gathered that Ministers from the zone all stayed away from the Summit as well; a situation many commentators said might be connected with IPOB’s vow that any politician of Igbo extraction that accompanied the President to the event, will have himself or herself to blame.
Recall, that IPOB, whose leader, Nnamdi Kanu, is being held by the Federal Government, had on announcement that the President would be visiting Enugu State for the Summit, released a statement warning Buhari to stay away from the South-East in his own interest.
It also warned all politicians from the zone, not to get involved in the President’s visit, having accused him of persecuting the Igbos.
In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the South-East Security and Economic Summit, former Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji said, “We have not seen the President.”
Afterwards, when it became clear that the President was neither going to be physically present, nor represented, Nnaji substituted his name with that of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who was present at the event, as the ‘Distinguished Guest of Honour’.
Former President Obasanjo, initially was scheduled for the introductory part of the Summit, as he was supposed to give an introductory speech, where he would thank Buhari for attending the occasion as the Chief Guest of Honour.
Recall also, that this is not the first time Buhari will refuse to honour his appointment; following threats by his subjects.
The threat by Niger Delta Avengers against the President’s proposed visit to Ogoniland, in Rivers State, earlier in June, had pressured Buhari to a last minute change of mind, to send his Vice, Yemi Osinbajo, to go in his stead.
However, in the case of the Enugu Summit, it is not yet clear why the President neither honoured the appointment, nor sent anybody to represent him.
Aside, the South-East Senate Caucus, had also said they would not be at the Summit, because they were not properly consulted.
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