Buhari, Obama To Meet In White House, July 20

Some family members of the CBN fraud case suspects at the court premises in Ibadan, yesterday.

The White House yesterday announced plans by the United States President, Barack Obama, to host Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, in Washington, DC, on July 20, in a symbolic show of solidarity after the country’s first ever true democratic transition.
The statement signed by the White House press secretary, and made available to The Tide by the US Embassy, Public Affairs Section, Abuja, indicated that President Obama will host Buhari at the White House, on July 20.
The visit will mark “our support for the Nigerian people following their historic democratic elections and peaceful transfer of power,” a statement added.
Obama’s administration had faced criticism for not planning to visit Nigeria during a two-nation Africa tour, also slated for July.
That trip will take in Kenya and Ethiopia, countries which have held highly questioned elections in recent memory.
May elections in Ethiopia resulted in the ruling party gaining all 546 parliamentary seats.
A presidential visit to Kenya had been put on ice while President Uhuru Kenyatta faced charges – now suspended – of crimes against humanity for his role in 2007-2008 post-election violence.
Obama and Buhari themselves will have a packed agenda.
The White House said they would discuss possible areas of support in the fight against Boko Haram militants.
The armies of Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon have been fighting a joint campaign against Boko Haram for several months, pushing militants out of captured towns and villages.
But village raids continue apace, often resulting in the deaths of dozens of women and children.
Boko Haram has been fighting to establish a hardline Islamic state in northeast Nigeria since 2009.
Obama and Buhari will also discuss Nigeria’s economic and political reforms to “unlock its full potential as a regional and global leader.”
The full text of the statement by the White House on the visit of President Buhari reads: “On Monday, July 20, President Obama will host Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari at the White House. The visit will underscore the United States’ longstanding friendship with Nigeria, our commitment to strengthening and expanding our partnership with Nigeria’s new government, and our support for the Nigerian people following their historic democratic elections and peaceful transfer of power.
“President Obama looks forward to discussing with President Buhari our many shared priorities including US-Nigeria cooperation to advance a holistic, regional approach to combating Boko Haram, as well as Nigeria’s efforts to advance important economic and political reforms that will help unlock its full potential as a regional and global leader.
“In addition to hosting President Buhari at the White House, the United States will welcome President Buhari’s senior advisors for consultations with US counterparts and other events aimed at building on the strong US-Nigeria relationship.”