Amid several parts of Nigeria submerged by flood, President Muhammadu Buhari, who had yet to visit any of those places, will on Sunday depart Abuja for Seoul, South Korea, to participate in the First World Bio Summit, 2022.
Mr. Femi Adesina, a media aide to the president, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday made available to CHECKPOINTCHARLEY, saying the summit which is jointly organised by the government of the Republic of Korea and the World Health Organisation has the theme: ‘The Future of Vaccine and Bio-Health’.
The statement read in part, “Nigeria was invited to the summit based on her selection with five other African countries by WHO and the European Union during the last EU-African Summit in Brussels, Belgium in February this year for mRNA technology transfer and Global Training Hub for bio-manufacturing of vaccines on the African continent.
“Also expected to feature at the World Bio Summit are CEOs of global vaccine and Biologics companies who will share and shape ideas on the theme, given that, according to the organisers, ‘global health security profoundly depends on the innovation and development in the bio-industry’. The partnership between the Republic of Korea and WHO, is therefore, to underscore not only the above historic truth, but also the need to launch international stage-efforts on the nature of creativity and innovation required to contain any future health pandemic.
“President Buhari, who is expected to deliver a statement at the summit, and meet separately with President Yoon Suk-yeol of the Republic of Korea, will also seek other ways of more effective partnerships that impact positively on the lives and safety of Nigerians during his other engagements and meetings while in Seoul.
“Accompanying the Nigerian leader are: Governors Aminu Masari and Abubakar Bello of Katsina and Niger states; Geoffrey Onyeama, Osagie Ehanire and Adeniyi Adebayo, Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Health, Industry, Trade and Investment respectively; and Timipre Sylva, Minister of State, Petroleum Resources.
“Others on the delegation are: Maj-Gen. Mohammed Monguno (retd), National Security Adviser; Amb. Ahmed Abubakar, Director-General, National Intelligence Agency; Prof. Moji Adeyeye, Director-General, NAFDAC; Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa, Director-General, NCDC; Bashir Jamoh, Director-General, NIMASA; Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman, NiDCOM as well as other top government officials.”
It is unclear from statement when Buhari is expected back in the country.
CHECKPOINTCHARLEY sees this foreign jamboree by the president as grossly misplaced, bearing in mind that he had yet to visit any of the flood-affected communities to commiserate with the victims.
As at the time of filing this report, the government of President Buhari also had yet to announce any form of relief package for those areas, despite cries by the affected states for help – especially Bayelsa State.
Junketing to South Korea for an unimportant summit at a time his country is in crisis is reckless, insensitive and executive misbehaviour.
Tax-Payers’ money that would be wasted on this non-essential trip would go a long way in helping some of the flood-affected victims.
CHECKPOINTCHARLEY 