By Editor
The Buhari Presidency has revealed why the planned presidential delegation meeting with governors and ‘stakeholders’ of the Niger Delta region was abruptly aborted on Tuesday, November 17.
According to a statement by Nigerian State House Press Secretary Garba Shehu, 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 President Muhamadu Buhari, and certainly not out of disrespect.
The spokesman explained that 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.
Garba Shehu claims that the above information and regret for the inconvenience caused were conveyed to the hosts of the meeting through what the State House believed were the right channels.
The Press Secretary further explained that 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 region in the aftermath of the ENDSARS protests, and the need to rise to protect the country’s national security and territorial integrity.
He added that the President is strongly and resolutely committed to hearing from leaders, stakeholders and the youth on burning issues affecting all parts of the Nigeria, and to this effect, a new date for the meeting with the rulers of the Niger Delta region will be agreed after due consultations with the parties concerned.
“Once again, the unavoidable postponement of the meeting is regretted,” Garba Shehu further stated.
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