Shettima, Oshiomhole, Amaechi, Emefiele among delegation
President to hold town hall meeting with US Diaspora Nigerians
Nduka Nwosu in Washington DC

With an official entourage of 33 including his son Yusuf, President Muhammadu Buhari arrives the Joint Base Andrews Airport, Washington DC Sunday to kick start his official visit to the United States.

Apart from getting a brief on the visit from Nigeria’s Ambassador to the US Professor Ade Adefuye and his team, Buhari will have a private dinner with Madeline Albright former US Secretary of State after settling down at the historic Blair House in Pennsylvania Avenue, the first time a visiting Nigerian leader would be so honoured.

The President who is billed to hold a Town Hall meeting with Nigerians in the Diaspora Tuesday will on Monday be officially welcomed at the White House starting with a breakfast meeting of five at the Naval Observatory, the official residence of the US Vice President Senator Joe Biden.

When THISDAY put a call to Adefuye on the expectations of the visit and what Nigeria stood to gain, he said the visit was strategic on many fronts because Nigeria and the US remain partners on many fronts.

According to him, the US recognises Nigeria as an emerging economic giant not just in Africa but in the global village adding this is the first time the US is inviting a newly elected African leader who has been in office for less than two months, to a state visit.

President Buhari, Adefuye said, “has what it takes to drive this emerging role of Nigeria and I am glad to receive him on this historic visit. The expectation that President Buhari will reposition the nation along the path of greatness is not misplaced.”

The importance of the visit to the US, Adefuye added, “is in the fact that the US is accommodating President Buhari at Blair House, the first of its kind for a Nigerian leader and at no expense to the country.”

Part of the high point of the visit is the long awaited lecture of Buhari at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) on his last day in the US.

The institute had expected him to deliver a public lecture at the heat of the Presidential campaign in February. USIP Director of Programmes, Ms. Jennifer Cooke had envisaged an event that would attract a large audience of US policy makers, academics, business leaders, and Nigerians in the Diaspora, an expectation that has even become heightened with the President’s rising profile since his defeat of Goodluck Jonathan a sitting president and the first time this is happening in the political space of the country.

The interactive session jointly organised by USIP, National Democratic Institute, International Republican Institute, Centre for Strategic Studies and the Atlantic Council will offer the President an opportunity to highlight on his policy direction and the expectations in the days ahead.

The Corporate Council for Africa (CCA) which also cancelled its lunch session with Buhari will along with the US Chamber of Commerce hold an interactive dinner with the president who would also have another media chat at the Blair House, later holding talks with Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate of the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Economic Assistance Programme for the North East and other important stakeholders on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)

The Blair House breakfast meeting which is restricted to five people includes the President, his host Senator Biden, the Permanent. Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Governor of Borno State; Ambassador Ade Adefuye and Rotimi Amaechi, former Governor of Rivers State.

The White House visit which is billed to last one hour will be followed by a media chat at the Pool Spray, a bilateral meeting with Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, US Trade Representative Michael Froman with Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha and his Nassarawa State counterpart in attendance

Buhari will also hold talks on corruption with Loretta Lynch, US Attorney General with Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Permanent Secretary, MFA; Director General, Nigerian Intelligence Agency and the Solicitor General of the Federation in attendance
He would later hold talks on Strengthening the Nigerian Economy with Jack Lew, US Secretary of the Treasury, with the Governor of the Central Bank Godwin Emefiele Permanent Secretary, MFA and Director General of the Budget as part of his team.

Apart from receiving in audience the US Black Caucus in the House of Representatives, Buhari will be at the Capitol Hill the equivalent of the National Assembly holding sessions with the Senate and House committees on Foreign Affairs with lunch hosted by US Secretary of State, John Kerry with Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima, his Oyo State counterpart Abiola Ajimobi, Permanent Secretary MFA, Ambassador Ade Adefuye, Director-General of NIA, Permanent Secretary Trade and Investment and businessman Ismaila Funtua

After his meeting with the US Director of the CIA, the President will be host of a courtesy call from his colleagues of the Class of 1980 of the US Army War College arriving at the Nigerian Embassy for the Town Hall Meeting as well as the Meet & Greet Session by Nigerian Youths in the US with Mo Abudu moderating while meeting later in the afternoon, a group of potential investors in the agricultural sector

On Buhari’s entourage are Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, Adams Oshiomhole, Kashim Shettima, Abiola Adeyemi Ajimobi, Godwin Emefiele, Rotimi Amaechi, Senator Hadi Sirika, Ambassador. Paul Bulus Z, Ambassador. Ayodele Oke, Alhaji. Aliyu Ismaila, Ambassador. A.A. Musa, Ambassador. G.B. Igali, Aliyu Yahaya Gusau, Dr. Mahmud Mohammed, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Ismaila Isa Funtua, Mr. Femi Adesina and Dr. Suhayb Sanusi Rafindadi.

Also on the entourage are Malam Garba, Mohammed Sarki, Kalu Abba-Snr, Ambassador Lawal A. Kazaure, Air Commodore N. B. Bali, Nura Rimi, Bashir Abubakar, Lt. Col. M. Lawal Abubakar, Abdulkarim Dauda, Yau Abdullahi and Sabiu Yusuf.

Others are Yusuf Maiyaki, Adamu Sambo, Emmanuel Anrihi, Bayo Omoboriowo, Baba Ujah, Lawal Mato-Snr, Gbenga Folagbade and Shehu Lawal Abubakar

Source: http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/buhari-goes-to-america-first-son-32-others-make-entourage/214945/

Just 33? that's modest enough, I remember one that flew with nearly 200.
Yusuf Buhari is a Nigerian too, so being the President's son shouldn't be a disadvantage.
I wish the Buhari led present administration all the best as they steer the national wheel..

God bless Nigeria

After his meeting with the US Director of the CIA, the President will be host of a courtesy call from his colleagues of the Class of 1980 of the US Army War College arriving at the Nigerian Embassy for the Town Hall Meeting

....and TANOIDS say my President Muhammadu Buhari no go school? God punish Devil!!


God bless my darling president!!

I wish you good luck in ur exams ooooo baba cos going to America is like going to unilorin to have post utme

Why can't he tell Nigerians that there is an office for first son.

Buhari reportedly staying at Obama residence next week saving Nigeria up to 15000 dollars per night at nearby Hotels.

Ok

thats my presido....

Buhari for life

Make this man no disgrace us for there.

Best wishes. Hope you won't blow up Obama's ears with your English. Go with a translator to make communication easy. GOD BLESS NIGERIA.

PMB is really working

Tourist President...........Who kill snake 2day?I wan arrange peppesoup!

This indeed is a working visit..... It reminds me of a certain President who went to America just to ring a bell. Nigerians haff suffered.

PMB mr Charisma!!!

Baba and Son Nigeria LTD

Baba and Son int'l Nigeria LTD

Jonathan went with 100.
Buhari left with 32.
USA cannot do anything for nigeria.
USA can only do something with nigeria.

Even keeping aside the very importance of the visit itself,what is most refreshing is the detailed information available of the number in the entourage,their names including even that of the photographer (omobiriowo),their missions,when they would accompany the president to specific meetings and the corresponding U.S delegates.
Obviously showing this is no visit for shopping and frivolities.
This is part of the change we need.
I have continuously said it,even before the elections;one of the most important and everlasting legacy a PMB presidency should give us is a template on how to properly run a govt,to which all other govt's after his would be made to govern by:honesty,transparency,accountability and not dipping one's hands into the govt till.

Hmmm.......smh,

PMB,no tyme to waste tyme...........

kossyablaze:
Tourist President...........Who knows where boko haram would strike 2day?

. . . . . . I guess inside your bedroom! For your eyes only!!

our dullard president continues with his world wide vacation. our taxes is now used to function an old dullard and his son's bucket list.

Did they go with an interpreter? I pity Obama sha...wait o, they can use one minute to make a device that translates Buhari's english into american...No ofeinc

Nice

omusiliyu:
Why can't he tell Nigerians that there is an office for first son.

That I don't understand too. He is spending tax payers money on his child. Is he the interpreter?
As in

Obama: Hi
Son to Buhari: Barka
Buhari to Son: Barka
Son to Obama: Hi

Obama : How are you
Son< kuna Lafia? Buhari >ina lafiya kalau, na gode

Son to Obama: I'm good, thank you.


Obama: Hope you arrived well?
Son to Buhari: Ina fata kun Zo Lafiya
Buhari to son:Ba damuwa

Son to Obama: it is okay

Obama: nice to meet you
Son to Buhari : naji dadin haduwarmu
Buhari to son: na gode
Son to Obama: Thank you

Did the OP deliberately smuggled in Yussuf's name in the headline. Scanning through the list in the body which tallies with the official list from the government, Yussuf is not there.

modelmike7:
. . . . . . I guess inside your bedroom! For your eyes only!!

U mean inside aso rock?

Who dey sponsor his pikin? Federal govt?
What happens to reducing cost of governance?

yusuf..acting on behalf of some ministers

Era of 'mammoth' entourage is gone.
PMB is working
Nigeria is moving
Youths are hoping

No Igbo name?
Out of 33 citizens of a country they make us believe we are one?

It is obvious and loud as that, that Buhari's govt is a clear war against the Igbos as earlier feared.

Why wont they allow the Igbos to leave then? Why!