Buhari Heads for AU Summit, May Meet Obasanjo...

President Muhammadu Buhari will today leave Nigeria for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to participate in the 30th ordinary session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU).

Buhari’s media adviser, Mr. Femi Adesina, in a statement, said the highlight of his principal’s engagements during the trip would be predicated on the historic theme for the summit: ‘Winning the Fight against Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Africa’s Transformation.’

Meanwhile, strong indications have since emerged that President Buhari might meet with former President Olusegun Obasanjo who is usually prominent figure at the summit.

THISDAY gathered that should the two leaders meet, it would be the first time since Obasanjo last Tuesday wrote an 18-page letter to the president criticising his administration, and advising him not to seek a re-election 2019.

According to Adesina, it is the first time in the 54-year-old history of the AU that anti-corruption would be made a theme of the gathering of the regional leaders.

He recalled that on July 4, 2017 at the 29th Session of the AU, African leaders unanimously endorsed Buhari to champion the fight against corruption on the continent adding that the endorsement was in recognition of his personal commitment and widely acclaimed anti-graft drive at the domestic level.

He also recalled that on July 25, 2017, Buhari in a letter to President Alpha Conde of Guinea, the outgoing AU Chairman, formally accepted his nomination to lead members of the AU on this crucial crusade against a veritable socio-economic vice viewed as antidevelopment.

“Apart from anti-corruption, other issues lined for consideration by African leaders and their delegations include, peace and security (transnational terrorism); institutional reforms of the continental body; free movement of persons; climate change; trade; aviation; education; gender and development.

“President Buhari will also hold bilateral meetings with some of his colleagues on issues of common interests,” Adesina added.

He listed those in the minister’s delegation to include: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, among others. Abdulrahman Danbazau; the Minister of State (Aviation), Hadi Sirika; the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno; and the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu.