President Jonathan to meet Obama in New York

 

 President Goodluck Jonathan is expected to hold five bilateral meetings, including one with United States President Barack Obama at the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.

According to the Nigerian Mission, the meetings will cover the European Union, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Lebanon as well as Trinidad and Tobago.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Jonathan is also expected to present Nigeria’s achievements under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

He will also identify the parameters of the post-2015 development agenda in his address to the 193-member state body, where scores of Heads of State would take to the podium next week in the annual general debate.

Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Prof. Joy Ogwu, who was represented by a senior official at the mission, Mr. Anthony Bosah, told journalists that during the bilateral meetings, the president would touch on agriculture, infrastructure, power and solid minerals.

Bosah said Jonathan would also intensify the country’s campaign for admission into the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member, on his arrival on Saturday.

“Nigeria is hopeful that the campaign for a non-permanent seat is going to yield fruits with the African Union and ECOWAS giving their nod, with an exception of Gambia which is trying to split Nigeria’s votes.

“The Central African Republic on whose ticket Chad Republic is campaigning for is no issue,’’ he said.

According to him, Nigeria’s peacekeeping operations have track records with the UN in Mali, Guinea Bissau and Liberia, notwithstanding the opposition of those who are not giving the country their votes on account of withdrawal of Nigeria’s troops from Mali.

“Nigeria’s domestic and foreign policies as well as democracy dividends, eminently qualify her for that seat at the Security Council,’’ Bosah added.