|
President Jonathan And CHOGM-2011
By Reuben Abati
Newsdiaryonline Fri Oct 28,2011
Jonathan
A news item, "President Jonathan Absent at CHOGM Forum, failed
to deliver scheduled speeches," (Channels TV, Sahara Reporters,
Compass, National Mirror, October 28), purportedly based on a
story in The Australian refers. I find the story mischievous and
the innuendoes contained therein entirely misleading.
The truth is as follows: On Wednesday, President Jonathan
delivered the keynote address at the Commonwealth Business Forum
on the theme: "Unleashing Africa's Potentials: A New Vision."
Attended by a capacity crowd of over 2, 000, the event
set the tone for subsequent deliberations at the Commonwealth
Business Forum, and the President's presentation was well
received.
The President was not scheduled to deliver speeches at
two events on Thursday as claimed. Rather, he was required to
participate in another Business Forum: "Africa - Creating a New
Economic Power for the 21st Century". It was agreed
that the state Governors attending CHOGM should attend this
event and use the opportunity to showcase trade and investment
potentials in their various states. In this regard, the
Governors of Ogun, Oyo, Kaduna, Akwa Ibom, Benue and Gombe
states participated
in the Forum, and in their various presentations, they further
explored the themes contained in President Jonathan's keynote
address. Similarly, President Jonathan asked the Minister of
Mines and Steel Development to attend the Mining Roundtable.
Before this, the President had held bilateral meetings with the
Hon. Colin Barnett, MPA, Premier of Western Australia, the Prime
MInister of Australia, Hon. Ms Julia Gillard, MP, and
Governor-General of Australia, Hon. (Ms.) Quentin Bryce AC. In
these meetings,
trade relations between Australia and Nigeria were discussed
with particular emphasis
on mining and agriculture, and the establishment of an
Australia-Nigeria Trade and Investment Council.
The President also met with top Australian business leaders at
the Royal Perth Yacht Club where he gave a speech on the mining
sector in Nigeria. On the day in question, when you claimed the
President failed to show up for scheduled events, he in fact
attended the final session of the Commonwealth Business Forum,
which came up immediately after the two events at which he was
represented by the Governors and the MInister respectively and
it was on this occasion that he gave his well reported speech on
the need for an "African Infrastructure Fund".
President Jonathan deserves commendation, not embarrassment, for
the sense of duty, leadership, and commitment that he continues
to demonstrate in bringing Nigeria "out of the woods" of
international relations. His participation at CHOGM 2011 has
been excellent, focussed as it is on the promotion of trade and
investment, bilateral relations, and private sector empowerment.
It is unfair to accuse him in any way of dereliction of
duty or "absence".
Today, he had the honour of proposing the toast of the
Commonwealth at a dinner hosted by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth
II. He also participated in the opening ceremony and in
executive retreat sessions.
President Jonathan remains focussed and determined to continue
to do his best on behalf of the Nigerian people, in pursuit of
the glory of the fatherland, and in honest fuliflment of his
promise not to let the Nigerian people down.
Reuben Abati
Special Adviser to the President
Media and Publicity
October 28, 2011
|
