Nduka Nwosu in New York and Jaiyeola
Andrews in Abuja
President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday
departed Abuja for New York to participate
in the 69th session of the United Nations
General Assembly (UNGA), during which
Jonathan would attend receptions hosted
by United States President Barack Obama
and UN Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki
Moon.
He would also have a private audience with
Obama in a bid to fix cooling relations
between Nigeria and the US over America’s
apparent reluctance to extend genuine
assistance to tackle the Boko Haram
insurgency, which has grown in magnitude
in recent months.
Presidency sources told THISDAY that
relations between both countries had
cooled off so much so, to the extent that
Nigeria did not get the right recognition she
deserves during the US-African Leaders
Summit in Washington DC last month.
According to the sources, Jonathan will
table Nigeria’s position on critical issues and
assure Obama of improved governance with
the aim of restoring the cordial relationship
that has existed between both countries for
decades.
The meeting, the sources explained, will be
a follow up to the back channels Nigeria
had already opened up to reach out to the
White House preparatory to the meeting on
improving ties between both countries.
One source in the presidency further
disclosed that the meeting had become
imperative for Jonathan, as it would provide
him the opportunity to neutralise powerful
US lobbies used by the leadership of the
opposition All Progressives Congress (APC)
to project his administration in the worst
possible bad light.
The meeting would also provide Jonathan
the opportunity to get the commitment of
the US government to provide proper and
genuine support in the war against
terrorism; shared intelligence between the
US and Nigeria to counter the insurgency in
the North-east; and the supply of arms,
equipment and training for the Nigerian
military.
In return, Obama will ask for respect for
human rights in Nigeria’s prosecution of the
war against terrorism, stronger
commitment to the fight against
corruption, and free and fair elections in
2015.
During the General Assembly, however,
Jonathan would address the United Nations
Security Council high-level session on
threats to international peace and security
caused by terrorist acts, and Nigeria’s
containment of the Ebola Virus Disease
(EVD).
In a statement yesterday by the president’s
spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, Jonathan
who would stop over in London for a brief
private visit before proceeding to New York,
will also be expected to participate at the
Climate Summit 2014.
The president will join visiting Heads of
State and Government for a dinner
reception and is expected to pay a private
visit to both UN General Assembly
President, Sam Kutesa, and later attend a
luncheon to be hosted by UN Secretary-
General.
On Wednesday, the president will address
the General Assembly and take part in the
UN Security Council Summit on foreign
terrorist fighters, chaired by Obama.
He will also attend the meeting on Open
Government Partnership.
Proving more insight into Nigeria’s
participation at the General Assembly,
Nigeria’s Ambassador to the US, Professor
Ade Adefuye, told THISDAY that it was
unlikely Nigeria’s First Lady, Mrs. Patience
Jonathan, would be accompanying her
husband to New York but Michelle Obama
who will be in attendance on Wednesday
will deliver the special keynote address at
the UN’s Global Education First Initiative’s
(GEFI) high-level event at the UN
headquarters.
The US Secretary-General launched this
initiative in September 2012, with the UN
Special Envoy on Education and former
British Prime Minister, Mr. Gordon Brown,
and the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organisation
(UNESCO).
GEFI aims to accelerate progress towards
quality education for all children and young
people.
With the 2015 deadline for the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs) approaching
and discussions on the next set of
development goals underway, this event is
an important opportunity for leaders
around the world to advocate their
ambitious visions for quality education for
all.
The event will feature a conversation
among world leaders, highlighting why
quality education should be at the heart of
global discussion.
On Thursday, Adefuye said Jonathan will
speak at a United Nations meeting on the
Ebola virus.
Jonathan is also scheduled to hold bilateral
talks with Moon and the British Prime
Minister, Mr. David Cameron.
www.thisdaylive.com/articles/in-unga-jonathan-obama-meet-may-fix-nigeria-us-ties/189639/