Yar'Adua Will Not Attend UN General Assembly


Cancels Meeting Obama, Ki-Moon

To Miss Four Top Meetings
By Laolu Akande, New York

PRESIDENT Umaru Yar'Adua will not be attending the United Nations annual General Assembly and the Climate Change summits starting on Tuesday, September 22 in New York.

The President turned down the respective invitation of US President, Barack Obama and the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon at the last minute.

Up till Friday afternoon at the UN Secretariat, Yar'Adua still had a slot reserved to address the UN General Assembly on Day 2 of its meeting on Thursday.

But UN sources confirmed yesterday that the Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, would now represent Nigeria, which means that the country will lose that slot reserved only for presidents.

Maduekwe will speak at a later date before the end of the weeklong meeting.

President Yar'Adua was invited alongside other heads of state, with more than 100 world leaders confirming participation.

There are at least four crucial events where Yar'Adua was being expected to participate.

First is the Tuesday Climate Change conference, which the Secretary-General summoned to mobilise world leaders on the need to conclude negotiations for a treaty on Climate change before the December meeting on the subject in Copenhagen, Denmark where the deal is to be sealed on Climate Change.

On Thursday at a press conference, Ki-moon warned that only about two weeks was left for the international negotiators to complete their work, but no agreement had been reached as yet.

The Secretary-General's plan is to use the Climate Change summit with presidents and heads of state in attendance to convince the world leaders to reach a deal soon.

Secondly, the Nigerian president is expected to participate at the regular annual General Assembly summit of heads of state, which starts on Wednesday.

Besides offering him an avenue to address the Assembly, such a gathering, according to UN sources, would have enabled President Yar'Adua to campaign for Nigeria's election for a non-permanent seat of the UN Security Council with his fellow presidents and heads of state.

According to a diplomat, the UN is a very hierarchical community and only heads of state can talk to heads of state.

Although Maduekwe will be representing Yar'Adua, yet, no president will meet with the Minister, except presidents from very small and non-influential nations, a source revealed.

The election to the UN Security Council non-permanent seat comes up on October 15 and although the African Group has endorsed Nigeria, the country still needs 128 votes, which is two-thirds majority requirement to be elected into the Council.

Thirdly, the President is expected as a major participant in the unprecedented meeting of US President Barack Obama on Tuesday, September 22.

According to the US Ambassador to the United Nations, a well known pro-African American diplomat and official, Dr. Susan Rice, President Obama will "host on the 22nd a lunch for heads of state and governments from sub-Saharan Africa."

The luncheon "will focus on how the United States can work in partnership with African governments to strengthen African economic and social development."

"The talk will focus primarily on three topics: job creation, especially for young people; creating a more conducive climate for trade and investment; and ways to mobilise African agriculture to create jobs and help feed the continent," she said.

Yar'Adua will miss this meeting as well, and it was not clear as at press time whether Maduekwe will be welcomed since this was clearly labeled a meeting of heads of state with the US President.

The following day, President Yar'Adua will miss a another crucial meeting, which, again is called by the US President only for UN member-States like Nigeria, which contribute troops to the UN international peace-keeping missions.

Apart from being the 4th ranking UN nations in troop-contribution, Nigeria is also the leader of the UN Special Committee on Peacekeeping.

But Yar'Adua will meet such a crucial meeting on the subject of peacekeeping with the US President, who is apparently reaching out specifically to Yar'Adua, among a few other presidents.

As US Ambassador Rice said in a White House press conference during the week, President Obama "will host a meeting with countries that contributed the largest numbers of police and troops to the United Nations peacekeeping operations."

She hinted at the importance of the meeting, saying, "this is an opportunity for the President to focus attention on reforming and strengthening U.N. peacekeeping for the 21st century, and to recognise the largely unheralded contributions of those that are providing the backbone of these critical peacekeeping operations."

Regarding this Obama meeting with States like Nigeria, UN sources explained that Yar'Adua was, in fact, the "beautiful bride to the Americans."

This is because, as diplomatic sources explained, the US government was concerned about the situation in Somalia and desires that a more robust UN peacekeeping force be deployed quickly.

In that regard, sources say the Americans are hoping that Nigeria's president could be encouraged during the meeting with Obama to provide substantially more troops for the UN peacekeepers in Somalia.

A Nigerian diplomat working with the UN Secretariat said this would have been an opportunity for President Yar'Adua to negotiate directly with Obama in return for whatever the Americans want from Nigeria.

Before now, Nigeria had been reluctant to commit more troops for the Somalia deployment at the UN. And since the US government is keen on protecting its interests against the activities of terrorists in Somalia, the Americans have been clamouring for a stronger UN peacekeeping mission in Somalia.

Until this effort, White House had simply not been very friendly towards the Nigerian presidency. First, President Obama opted not to visit Nigeria in his first African trip.

Secondly, when US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, visited Nigeria, her public and indoor comments were considered very critical.

Even there are reports that in the planning of the Clinton visit to Nigeria, the US Government might have left the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Nigeria out in several aspects.

However, with the current veiled offer from the White House to Aso Rock, a rapprochement is being built, according to diplomatic thinking.

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/news/article01//indexn2_html?pdate=200909&ptitle=Yar'Adua  Will Not Attend UN General Assembly

This surely confirmed that Yara dull is mentally lazy.

So whats the big deal about him turning down an invitation from the UN and from Obama? How many other head of states will send representatives?

Honestly? Poster- what is your point? If he goes there, the lots of you will say he is wasting time and energy he should be home resolving ASUU problems. What are you about?

His wellness is obviously suspect.

another stupid post and comments.

I m sure he wont be miss

Na Turai dey go

The President turned down the respective invitation of US President, Barack Obama and the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon at the last minute.
this guy has no clue on any thing, inferiority complex, is an understatement, a man who only visited the usa as president. the worst president ever. he can,t stand among his peers. weakling.

I always suspect that this man is useless, brainless and lack leadership.  Yar'adua is afraid of other leaders or embarrass. This guy is ashamed of himself. He doesn't want to embarrass himself address others leaders when it get to his turn. I believe you have seen one of his speech before. This guy speaks like someone who English is his fifth language and he always read and look down all the time. He always turn down every event he is invited to. If this was obasanjo that had the opportunity to come to UN, this guy will be the first leader to touch down in America.  Yar'adua  is really a sick man. I believe other leaders are happy to hear this news because I know for sure none the leaders will not give  Yar'adua a face because he is scary. Other leaders can now breath with their nose open.

Yar'adua is not fit for a leader. Anyway, I blame obasanjo for imposing the brainless man upon a nation that suppose to be a leader to the rest instead we are lacking a leadership to small country like Benin, Togo Ghana and others. What a shame.

Its likely the man is not okay healthwise.

Don't speak of your president, weather you like it or not he is d no 1 citizen of this great country "Nigeria". Case closed.

davidylan:

Its likely the man is not okay healthwise.

Please let Yar'dua go to the US.
At least he can get a World class medical care, instead of going to some 3rd rated hospital in Saudi Arabia.
Somebody please tell the man that US is where Saudi Kings and princes go to get their own medical care.

emekatimsu:

Don't speak of your president, weather you like it or not he is d no 1 citizen of this great country "Nigeria". Case closed.

The man is afraid to speak in from of well educated bright leaders. This is not the first time and it wouldn't be the last.

na wetin we dey find na we see naa.

Can't it be time for Nigerians to ve a say in its destiny. We need to understand the politics at play internationally. Key is bargaining power. Do you all know how much nigeria has contributed to peacekeeping - wats the cost and the price and the value. know it today - somalia is a failure for foreigners.

I also will not neglect that the government is bleeped.

Well, if the president has pressing issues back home, then I see nothing wrong with him turning down these invitations.

C'mon folks, ya'll keep saying if the guy has pressing issues at home. nigeria since independence have always have pressing issues. the guy just hasnt got what it takes to be a world leader.besides, who wants to stand near a dying man. maybe his wife is representing him there
And we are talking about rebranding the name nigeria, as if going to the UN is not a good start for the useless rebranding to start. anyways what they need is a revolution. useless dumbfucks

Many of us here are missing the point,of course Yaradua realy would ve loved to attend these internationally diplomatic meetings but his failing health won't let him.We all saw this coming,the sick lame duck was too carried away by the prospects of being a president and neglected the effects it was going to have on his already paling health.From the so-called first 100 days to mark his achievement,I just knew Yaradua was bad news,it was so annoyingly obvious that the unwilling president was not in control of anything,he spends too much time attending to his health needs than to national issues,his lukeworm approach to urgent issues shows this guy is worst than a puppet,rarely shows up at anything,timidly taciturn and lacks the ability to inspire hope,the facking sicklying makes Obasanjo look good as a leader,we might all have hated the ol man and his guts but we can't honestly accuse him of inactions.These meetings are so important to Nigeria especially now that we are trying to give Nigeria a good image abroad but all these can't fit into the itineraries of the sickly president except of course it has to do with his declining state of health,with all sense of pity i doubt if that sick bloke will be able to stay alive till the end of this tenure.And yes,Yaradua has a low self-esteem,after his selection(by his cronies)which was fraught with illegality,election maneuvering and the usual INEC abracadabra which made him look like a lame-duck trying so hard to get credibility,one of the first countries he visited was the US,then Bush was the president,I was so disgusted by this man's mien,so tepid,obviously jittery & intimidated,there was nothing to suggest that the black guy on the side of president Bush was also a president elect,the scene was more like a master getting reports from a servant that has not performed well at a given task,Yaradua was so clueless,lacked confidence in his voice and yes so burnt up sitting on the hot seat at the white house.As far as i am concerned,Yaradua is another 4yrs draw back and fellow Nigerians both diasporans and locals must ensure that he does't get back there again.I rest my case,May God help this country.

@topic

Will it make any difference?

But why is this a big news anyway, i mean its not as if nigeria is a big player in world politics, economy or sports. who cares what he does. the simple truth is time is fast running out on that country

May God help this Country.Amen

AjaraEwuro:

So whats the big deal about him turning down an invitation from the UN and from Obama? How many other head of states will send representatives?

Honestly? Poster- what is your point? If he goes there, the lots of you will say he is wasting time and energy he should be home resolving ASUU problems. What are you about?

[b]  Hi, For many days ago.I stopped making any comment or post,only read pple POST & comment if any Interesting. But Honestly you see the post at the wrong side though everybody with his\her own view of understanding, but why don't you have a look this way, We both know the kind of President we have in Nigeria,how dull, maggot,stupid,fool and scrawl he is, the ASUU strike as nothing to do with the post or his failure to the meeting. Yar'adua is just a failure admmit that. What are they looking before the ASUU strike should be your concern,what have they done after the strike and before the metting should be your watch toward , Fine other president will be at the Assemble,tell me if their country is worse as nigerian his Today. A country we are not Proud of out side others countries and where everyone is trying to be a residence of another country. That means more than a lot. This kinda of meeting is part of their duties and failure to be there is part of their Error. The man is just driving back the country every day and I put every things in hands of Lord   %%%%CHANGE WE NEED%%%. Many thanks[/b]

[size=15pt]yar adua has appointment with is Oversea Doctors that same day, if missed it may lead to DEATH![/size]
shame, blind sick man leading a Nation.

kim_13:


[b] Hi, For many days ago.I stopped making any comment or post,only read pple POST & comment if any Interesting. But Honestly you see the post at the wrong side though everybody with his\her own view of understanding, but why don't you have a look this way, We both know the kind of President we have in Nigeria,how dull, maggot,stupid,fool and scrawl he is, the ASUU strike as nothing to do with the post or his failure to the meeting. Yar'adua is just a failure admmit that. What are they looking before the ASUU strike should be your concern,what have they done after the strike and before the metting should be your watch toward , Fine other president will be at the Assemble,tell me if their country is worse as nigerian his Today. A country we are not Proud of out side others countries and where everyone is trying to be a residence of another country. That means more than a lot. This kinda of meeting is part of their duties and failure to be there is part of their Error. The man is just driving back the country every day and I put every things in hands of Lord %%%%CHANGE WE NEED%%%. Many thanks[/b]

Bolding your entire post is not just annoying, it is wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

kosovo:

[size=15pt]yar adua has appointment with is Oversea Doctors that same day, if missed it may lead to DEATH![/size]
shame, blind sick man leading a Nation.

So far, you are the only one that has pointed out the exact reason. Yaradua probably cancelled due to his health.

Well he is a chemist and of course only knows how the chemical react and not how nations relate internationally. he is ignorant and dull. no vision, no focus and no direction. remember where there is no vision the people perish and whats happening to Nigeria are we not perishing?

It really is sad that , at a time our local and international profile is diminishing,  we are saddled with this dull and inactive chap who is now totally beholden to his health issues, paranoia and childish vindictiveness.

Yar Adua , despite being billed to address other heads of State , is not attending probably because of one of these reasons ; (1) he is physically unfit, (2) he wants to vengefully snub Obama et al , (3)he is not confident enough to rub shoulders with and address other leaders who are legitimate and deserving of their positions, (4) a combination of the reasons above. Whatever the reason/s Nigeria is the loser .

No Nation , if it is at all interested in making progress , should have to put up with Yar Adua's type of ridiculously lame and impotent leadership. Those who state that Yar Adua does not need to attend simply don't understand the dynamics of international relations . Our Nation is losing out because Yar Adua is MIA. Simple. Yar Adua's action is indefensible. We want to be viewed as a serious nation with aspiration and drive yet Yar Adua and his corrupt pals like Aondoakaa are doing their best to make us appear as one of the most unserious and corrupt nation on Earth.

Okay Yar'dua is not attending,wat of d vice president, or is dat not allowed?wat pressing issues is he attending to at home?ASUU strike?Electricity Problems?Fixing bad road?or what?some should please inform me?or maybe he should send Turai?

@Mr. President

there might be a good reason why he is not attending.We should not criticize just for the sake of criticism alone.

shut your mouth, and don't give us those crap,  Mr. President.

AjaraEwuro:

So whats the big deal about him turning down an invitation from the UN and from Obama? How many other head of states will send representatives?
Honestly? Poster- what is your point? If he goes there, the lots of you will say he is wasting time and energy he should be home resolving ASUU problems. What are you about?

The irony of it all is he will not go and he will not tackle any issue back home.