For more than 48 hours, the two most powerful leaders in Nigeria have been out of the country with no clear directive of who is in charge.
President Muhammadu Buhari left to the New York on Sunday to attend the UN General Assembly.
Before the president’s leaving for the U.S., Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Saturday departed Abuja for London to attend the funeral of late Queen Elizabeth II.
A statement issued by the Media Adviser to the President, Mr. Femi Adesina, the theme for the 77th session, which opened on Tuesday, September 13, is: “A Watershed Moment: Transformative Solutions to Interlocking Challenges.”
The statement identified key topics of discussion at this year’s UNGA including the war in Ukraine, the energy crisis, climate action, ending the COVID-19 pandemic, and a special Transforming Education Summit.
The statement disclosed that President Buhari will take his turn to deliver an address on the second day of the General Debates on Wednesday, September 21.
Aside from his address, the president will also participate in high-level meetings and side events including the Nigeria International Economic Partnership Forum convened by Nigeria in partnership with the Business Council for International Understanding, BCIU; Strengthening Coordination through National Humanitarian Development Peace (NHDP) Framework: A practical approach to sustainable durable solutions to ensure no one is left behind, organised by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development; and the EFCC-NEPAD Programme on combating Illicit Financial Flows.
Also, a tweet by the vice president’s spokesperson, Laolu Akande, said, “VP Osinbajo is leaving Abuja today for London to represent Nigeria at the State Funeral for the late Queen Elizabeth II. He will join King Charles, the Royal Family and other world leaders at a number of events and receptions including a bilateral meeting.”
Queen Elizabeth II, who died on 8 September at the age of 96, will on Monday receive a state funeral at London’s Westminster Abbey, one of the largest diplomatic occasions of the century.
