The Presidency explained on Wednesday that the absence of the federal government delegation at the planned meeting with governors and stakeholders of the South-South region was due to an emergency security meeting summoned by the President, and not out of disrespect.
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A statement signed by the President’s senior aide, Garba Shehu, said the delegation to the meeting, under the Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, ministers and heads of security and intelligence agencies were in full readiness to proceed to Port Harcourt until they were directed to stay back for the emergency security meeting.
He said the information and regret for the inconvenience caused were conveyed to the hosts of the meeting “through what we believed were the right channels.”
The statement read further: “As may have been gleaned from the statement read by the Minister of Police Affairs, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, the extraordinary National Security Council meeting, under the President, was called in view of the gravity of the security situation affecting all parts of the country, including the South-South in the aftermath of the ENDSARS protests, and the need to rise to protect our national security and territorial integrity.
“The President is strongly and resolutely committed to hearing from leaders, stakeholders and our youth on burning issues affecting all parts of the federation, and to this effect, a new date for the meeting with the South-South will be agreed after due consultations with the parties concerned.
“Once again, the unavoidable postponement of the meeting is regretted.
