Why Buhari has to go on foreign trips – Lai Mohammed

 

As President Muhammadu Buhari attends anti-corruption summit in the United Kingdom Tuesday, Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has defended his foreign trips, saying that, it was in the interest of Nigeria that the President attends to meetings that require his presence outside Nigeria.

According to the Minister, only President Buhari so far parades the kind of personality that attracts the confidence of world powers.

Lai Mohammed stated this in Kaduna while appearing on Liberty Radio and Television live programme, tagged Guest of The Week.

According to Mohammed, President Buhari sending representatives to such meetings as some people have suggested will not be as effective as having the president attending them in person.

He said it would be unfair to attribute the President’s readiness to honour such invitations to a desire  for pleasure saying at the president’s age such things do not matter to him but is only compelled to oblige out of necessity and due to his passion to serve the country.

“Many world leaders are saying now that Nigeria has a leader with integrity, they have the confidence to discuss with us even on the issue of the looted funds, so sending a representative cannot achieve that much,” he stated.

Mohammed explained that each of the President’s trip is necessary saying shortly after assuming office, President Buhari had to travel to neighboring countries to seek their collaboration on the fight against insurgents then later to the G-7 countries saying his reputation as a sincere leader with integrity is what makes the world leaders invite him to such meetings.

The minister explained that the President’s current trip to the UK to attend the summit on anti corruption is no different saying it would avail him the opportunity to meet with world leaders on the fight against corruption and on the issue of looted funds and how it can be repatriated back to the country.

Mohammed used the opportunity to explain comments he made on how Nigeria can diversify its economy through tourism saying the tourism industry presents a huge potential that can be tapped.

The minister denied saying the government is going to create jobs using masquerades saying he only used the example of a particular masquerade in the South East to illustrate how a single festival can attract activities across board.

Meanwhile, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and other Ministers are to give account of stewardship of President Muhammadu Buhari led administration in the last one year at a town hall meeting in Kaduna Tuesday.