Namadi meets Jonathan ahead today’s swearing-in

Wednesday, 19 May 2010 00:00

Governor Mohammed
Namadi Sambo

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday met with the Vice President designate, Kaduna State Governor Mohammed Namadi Sambo, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Namadi may be sworn-in as vice president today during or before the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting following his confirmation yesterday by the two chambers of the National Assembly.

Soon after the confirmation, Namadi along with some state governors drove into the State House, Abuja at about 3:30pm and quickly went into the president’s office.

The governors were Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko of Sokoto State, Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State, Gabriel Suswan of Benue State, Saidu Dakingari of Kebbi State and Segun Oni of Ekiti State. After the meeting which lasted for about for 30  minutes, Namadi with the governors, emerged from the president’s office and assembled before the arrival of the visiting Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma.

Later Jonathan joined them to receive Koroma and after the reception, the two presidents went into the office while Namadi and the governors drove out of the Villa. A statement by Jonathan’s spokesman Ima Niboro said while receiving Koroma in his office, Jonathan pledged to continue to work in close collaboration with other African governments to promote peace, stability, growth and development in the continent.

“Nothing will change in our brotherly relations with Sierra Leone and other African countries,” Jonathan assured Koroma who was accompanied by the Speaker of the Sierra-Leonean Parliament, Justice Abel Stronge, the Parliament’s Majority Leader, Mr. S.B. Dumbuya, the Minister of Defence, Mr. Paulo Conteh, the Minister of Interior, Mr. Dauda Camara and the Minister of Information Mr. Ibrahim Kargbo.

In his remarks, Koroma said that he had chosen to come personally to commiserate with President Jonathan, and also congratulate him on his assumption of office because of the enduring tradition of excellent brotherly relations between his country and Nigeria.

Jonathan also received a condolence message from the President of the World Bank, Mr. Robert B. Zoellick which was delivered by the Bank’s Country Director for Nigeria, Mr. Onno Ruhl.