The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari during a media event in New York City at the end of his visit to the United States as the leader of Nigeria’s delegation to the 71th United Nations’ General Assembly vehemently foreclosed any chance for a referendum as a path to putting to rest the vexing issue of Biafra.
In recent past, President Buhari had been dismissive of Biafran agitators as kids who did not see the extent of damage the Biafran-Nigerian Civil War had brought to the country.
Few weeks ago, while addressing National Youth Corp members who visited him at his country home in Daura, Katsina state the president urged them to ask their friends who are from the south eastern and south southern part of Nigeria to forget about Biafra.
The president stated that the choice left for Biafran activists is to form a political party that would advance their interest within the Nigerian democratic space.
Mr. Buhari also used the opportunity offered by the media event to outline the accomplishments of his trip to the General Assembly.
He stated that Nigeria was well represented at various meetings held as part of the General Assembly. President Buhari talked about Nigeria’s signing of the Paris Climate Change Accord and progress made at the Chad Basin conference.
He announced that the US and the UK pledged over $300 million dollars to support the efforts of his government.
Media personnel at the event were disappointed that the president was not going to take questions from the media despite the event being tagged a press conference.
At the insistence of SaharaTV’s Adeola Fayehun, the president reconsidered the position and took just three questions. He also granted a ten-minute interview to the Hausa Service of the Voice of America.
Accompanying the president to the event were the governors of Lagos and Zamfara states.
Other government officials present were ministers of Foreign Affairs, Justice, Defence, Internal Affairs and other top government officials.
Buhari departed New York for Abuja after the press conference.
