The Presidency has justified President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to go ahead with participating in the International Development Association (IDA) for Africa Summit in Dakar, Senegal, despite recent terror attacks.
Public opinions have opposed the President’s plan to attend the IDA for Africa Summit in Dakar, Senegal, with many citing escalating insecurity across the country, a situation they claimed he ought to stay back in the country to fix.
However, President Buhari will be heading out to Dakar, Senegal on Wednesday for the IDA for Africa Summit.
In the last 48 hours, the Presidential Advance Team convoy got caught up in a bandits’ operation at Dutsinma in Katsina State, reportedly leaving two persons dead and others injured.
Kuje Medium Prison in Abuja was also attacked by suspected Boko Haram elements, freeing hundreds of inmates.
Both incidents coming barely few hours to Buhari’s departure prompted public outcry, describing the President as insensitive to the insecurity predicament.
However, responding to a question on the President’s planned trip, despite the security situation, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said Buhari had done well by not pandering to threats by terrorists.
According to him, the President’s attendance of the event is an international obligation, involving other presidents and heads of state, adding that the moment actions of terrorists start to determine what is done or not done, then the country had been brought to its knees.
“Yes, the president should go because there’s an international conference meant for heads of states and presidents, he should attend. You should never give in to terrorists. The moment terrorists begin to stop you from doing things, then we might as well throw up our hands in surrender. The President should go ahead. Yes, it’s an international obligation,” he said.
President Muhammadu Buhari will jet off to the capital of Senegal, Dakar, to participate in the International Development Association (IDA) for Africa Summit.
A statement on Wednesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, announcing his travel plan to Dakar, President Buhari is expected back in the country tomorrow, Thursday.
“President Muhammadu Buhari will depart Abuja Wednesday, July 6, to participate in the International Development Association (IDA) for Africa Summit in Dakar, Senegal.
“An institution of the World Bank Group, IDA is deepening its support to drive a resilient recovery for countries hit by the global crises of climate and COVID -19, growing levels of insecurity and more recently, by the impact of the war in Ukraine through its historic $93 billion 20th replenishment cycle (IDA20) which goes into effect between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2025.
“At the High Level event slated for Thursday, July 7 and hosted by President Macky Sall of the Republic of Senegal, President Buhari is expected to join other African leaders in an open Dialogue on Development Challenges and priorities as well as transformational initiatives that will lead to an outcome document, the Dakar Declaration.
“This commitment is expected to chart the way forward for the transformation of the economies of these nations in partnership with the World Bank/IDA.
“Topics slated for discussion include: Financing for Recovery and Economic Transformation in Africa; Agriculture, Livestock and Food Security; Human Capital; Digital and Technological Innovation; and Energy Transition and Climate Change.
“The President will be accompanied on the trip by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Geoffery Onyeama; Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed; as well as Industry, Trade and Investment, Adeniyi Adebayo.
“Others on the entourage are: the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele; Director- General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Amb. Ahmed Rufa’i Abubakar; Director-General, Debt Management Office, Patience Oniha; and the Managing Director of the Bank of Industry, Olukayode Pitan.
“President Buhari is expected back in the country at the end of the Summit on Thursday, July 7,” the statement reads.
Follow The Eagle Online Channel on WhatsApp
