The Presidency had explained why the federal government’s delegation was absent at the planned meeting with governors and stakeholders of the South-South region.
In a statement signed by the Senior Special Adviser to the president on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the presidency said the interruption was necessitated by an emergency security meeting summoned by the President.
According to the statement, 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.
It stated that information regarding the inconvenience caused by the postponment were earlier conveyed to the hosts of the meeting.
According to Garba Shehu: “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.
“The unavoidable postponement of the meeting is regretted”.