Contrary to both reports from both local and foreign media, President Goodluck Jonathan has denied the accusations that he led a 600-man delegation to attend the United Nations (UN) 68th General Assembly in the United States on Sunday.
President Jonathanis expected to speak at the UN General Assembly which theme is; ‘Post-2015 Development Agenda: Setting the Stage.
The president who will make his presentation at the plenary debate slated for Tuesday pointed out through his spokesperson, Dr. Reuben Abati, that allegation meted against him lacks substance.
Abati revealed that the president led less than 30 persons to New York as members of his entourage while the only other persons approved by the president are the relevant ministers and a few other “essential aides”.
“There is also no substance to the rehashed charge of profligacy which Sahara reporters annually make against the President when he leads Nigeria’s delegation to the UN General Assembly.
“The truth is that less than 30 persons arrived in New York with the President this morning as members of his entourage. Other than them, the only other persons who are in New York for the UN General Assembly with the President’s knowledge and approval are relevant ministers and few essential aides.
It was also pointed out that President Jonathan’s official delegation is definitely not out of proportion with Nigeria’s size, role and relevance in Africa and the global community.
“Sahara Reporters’ claim that the President’s delegation is the largest at this year’s General Assembly is an unjustifiable fabrication which can never stand any rigorous test of truthfulness.
“We are certainly aware that many Nigerian citizens are currently on visits to New York. These persons are here for their own purposes and neither President Jonathan nor his administration has any responsibility for the presence of these persons in New York.
“We will not be surprised if it is such persons who include Nigerian businessmen who are here for an African Business Roundtable event, members of non-governmental organizations and tourists that Sahara Reporters has been counting, for the sole purpose of mischief-making, as “members of the Nigerian delegation” Abati stated.
The report had earlier claimed that the president was accompanied by inner entourage comprising 26 people; First Lady, two Govs, 547 civil servants drawn from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) among others.
Also the Nigerian delegation was projected as the largest of any nation at UN event this year including the president’s security aides, his wife, doctor and political associates.
It was revealed that Jonathan began his official duties in New York on Sunday with a lunch date with no fewer than 250 Nigerian professionals selected by Nigerian diplomats in the U.S after the presidency cancelled a planned town hall meeting out of fear that it could be botched by protest from Nigerians in New York.
In his schedule, the president is expected to hold five bilateral meetings that will cover the European Union (EU), Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Lebanon, as well as Trinidad and Tobago and also meet with the U.S. President, Barack Obama later.
The supervising Minister of National Planning Commission will also chair an event, organised by the Leading Group of Innovative Financing for Development, a global body which has 63 member nations and many international non-governmental organizations.
Jonathan is the first African leader to speak at the UN General Assembly among other three including the leaders of Brazil, U.S. and Turkey who have been slated to speak before him.