Jonathan Departs for US Today, Briefs Senate President
From Juliana Taiwo in Abuja, 04.10.2010

[b]As Acting President Goodluck Jonathan departs for the United States of America on a four-day working visit today, the senate president, Senator David Mark has been fully apprised of the acting president’s trip.


In a statement issued yesterday by the Senior Special Adviser to the acting president Ima Niboro, he said the senate president has been fully apprised of the four day visit, and that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation Yayale Ahmed, the National Security Adviser General Aliyu Gusau, and the principal secretary to the acting president Mike Oghiadomhe would be “fully on ground during Jonathan’s absence.”


Under the “Doctrine of Necessity”, Jonathan’s last minute briefing to the Senate President was seen by political pundicts as Mark being asked to act in the capacity of “President Pro Tempore” that is president on a temporary basis during Jonathan’s absence.
While in the US, the acting president will attend the International Nuclear Summit taking place in Washington DC from the 12th to 14th April.


Niboro said the acting president is expected to meet US President Barack Obama, on Sunday, April 11 for a one on one meeting.
He is also expected to meet with Vice President Joe Biden, the US Congres-sional Black Caucus, as well as the president of the World Bank Robert B. Zoellick.
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The summit itself is expected to focus on the control of vulnerable nuclear materials across the globe, and to ensure that such materials do not fall into the hands of non state actors.


The nuclear summit is also part of a global effort to attain higher levels of nuclear security, which is essential for peaceful development and the global expansion of nuclear energy to nations such as Nigeria.
Jonathan is travelling to the US on the invitation of President Barack Obama to attend a maiden Nuclear Security Summit organised by the US government.


The two leaders are expected to discuss bilateral relations at the meeting. The Nigeria-US Bi-national Commission is on the agenda, in addition to global terrorism and counterterrorism measures.
US and Nigeria had signed the Bi-national commission agreement last Tuesday in Washington DC.
Also to be discussed at the meeting between Obama and Jonathan are issues of regional security and peace-keeping. Nigeria is Africa’s largest contributor to peace-keeping.


Before his departure, the acting president yesterday commended the role played by traditional rulers in the promotion of peace and stability in the country.
He said their stabilizing role was most appreciated especially when the country needs to forge ahead in its quest to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.


He made this known when he received in audience a 35-man delegation of South-west traditional rulers led by the Oni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade to the State House, Abuja.
Dr Jonathan said the high powered delegation was an affirmation of their support for the federal government’s determination to address the urgent needs of Nigerians.


On the issues raised by the delegation which bordered on security, power, electoral reform and corruption, the acting president affirmed that these are similar areas of concern noted by the administration.


He promised that the federal government would not rest on its oars until there is significant impact made.
Jonathan appealed to the delegation to support the government in tackling the issue of kidnapping which he observed could hamper investment in the country. “We must stop it now or else it will discourage investors,” he said.


In his remarks, the Oni of Ife commended the effort of the government in addressing the infrastructure needs in the country. He however appealed that the tempo be stepped up.
He advised that a true federal structure be established by ensuring equitable distribution of resources to all constituent parts of the federation. This, he said, will make every Nigerian have a sense of belonging.




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I hope that the World Bank President will not try to convince Jonathan to take more loans from world bank. Nigeria needs to stay away from borrowing that may put it back into huge debt.