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President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday cancelled a meeting with the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The focus of the meeting that was called off was believed to be on the forthcoming convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC), especially issues around the modalities and the setting up of sub-committees to ensure the success of the exercise.
committees to ensure the success of the exercise.
Daily Trust learnt that most of the APC governors had arrived in Abuja on Monday for the Tuesday meeting before they heard of the cancellation through the PGF secretariat.
The chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Kayode Fayemi; the chairman of the Northern Governors Forum and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong; Ben Ayade (Cross River) and Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna) had arrived at the Presidential Villa for the meeting that was not listed as part of the president’s itinerary for the day.
Governors Hope Uzodinma of Imo State and Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, who had scheduled meetings with the president, were said to have equally prepared to attend the meeting believed to have been called off because it was almost Buhari’s departure time for the trip to Belgium.
Meanwhile, the president yesterday received the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Omo-Agege and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ahmed Idris Wase at the State House, Abuja who jointly headed the Constitution Review Committee.
MEANWHILE, President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday departed Abuja for a summit in Brussels, Belgium involving African and European leaders.
He is expected back in the country on Saturday.
According to a statement signed by presidential spokesperson Garba Shehu, “the summit, which holds February 17 – 18, 2022, will have the participants deliberate on themes currently affecting the world.
“Such areas of discussion include: Financing for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth; Climate Change and Energy Transition, Digital and Transport (Connectivity and Infrastructure); Peace, Security and Governance; and Private Sector Support and Economic Integration.
“Others are: Education, Culture and Vocational Training, Migration and Mobility; Agriculture and Sustainable Development and Health Systems and Vaccine Production.
“The Nigerian leader will use the opportunity of the meeting to have other bilateral engagements.
“The President will be accompanied on the trip by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, Minister of State for the Environment, Sharon Ikeazor.
“The National Security Adviser, Maj.Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd), Director General of the National Intelligence Agency , Amb. Ahmed Rufai Abubakar and the Chief Executive Officer of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa will also be part of the entourage.”
