BIAFRA - BARACK OBAMA TO MEET BUHARI SHUNS PHILIPPINES PRESIDENT

United States President, Barack Obama, will meet President Muhammadu Buhari on the sidelines of the annual United Nations General Assembly gathering this week.

Obama will discuss with Buhari on US support for security and economic challenges in the country, as well the government’s efforts to defeat Boko Haram.

Nigeria and the US have pending agreement over the sale of US military equipment, especially attack helicopters to fight the insurgents.

White House Deputy National Security Adviser, Ben Rhodes, added that Obama would hold separate sessions with Iraqi Prime Minister, Haider Al-Abadi; and Colombian President, Juan Manuel Santos.

Rhodes, however, said that Obama will not meet Philippines President, Rodrigo Duterte, who recently insulted the US President.

The White House cancelled a meeting with Duterte during Obama’s recent trip to Laos for a regional summit after Duterte insulted him.

 

Duterte, who also slammed the UN and threatened to quit the world body after it criticised killings in its war on drugs, has not been scheduled to attend the General Assembly meeting.

Duterte turned down a meeting with UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, at the Laos summit.

Meanwhile, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Mr Femi Adesina, said in a statement that Buhari would deliver Nigeria’s statement at the opening of the general debate of the Assembly on “The Sustainable Development Goals: A Universal Push to Transform Our World.”

Adesina stated that the President would also attend a high-level summit to be hosted by the UN, on “large movements of refugees and migrants.”

He said, “The summit, which is the first of its kind, is expected to come up with a blueprint for a better international response to enhance the protection of migrants and refugees.’’