Ex President avoids sitting with APC members at Abuja meeting
He chose to sit among the participants instead of a front row seat reserved for him among the dignitaries, at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton.
Recommended articles
![Bola Tinubu [Facebook]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg'%20width%3D'100'%20height%3D'100'%20data-ring-placeholder%3D'1'%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E "Bola Tinubu [Facebook]")
No one knew the reason for Obasanjo’s action and he did not explain to anyone.
Before Obasanjo’s arrival, BossMustapha, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation; Gov. NasirEl-Rufai of Kaduna State; Minister of Finance, KemiAdeosun and AlbertMuchanga, African Union’s Commissioner for Trade and Transport were already seated.
He arrived when BenedictOramah, the President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank was delivering his welcome speech.
ADVERTISEMENT
Earlier, the meeting witnessed the opening ceremony which featured a documentary on the history of Afreximbank’s 25 years of existence.
GeorgeElombi, the Executive Vice President of Afreximbank had also delivered his introductory remarks.
But when Bronwyn Nelson, the Editor-at-Large of CNBC Africa who was moderator of the event, walked up to welcome Obasanjo at the entrance with the aim of ushering him to his seat, the former Nigerian president refused and chose to sit on an empty seat on the right row of the hall.
Everyone was surprised at Obasanjo’s action including the other dignitaries in front of the hall.
After Oramah’s welcome speech, Muchanga and Nelson went to persuade Obasanjo to take his seat.
ADVERTISEMENT
The former president, however, complied and followed them to his seat.
He shook hands with the dignitaries starting from Mustapha to El-Rufai, Oramah and Adeosun among others before sitting.
Obasanjo therefore became the toast of the Afreximbank Annual Meeting 2018 and 25th anniversary programme, which ends in Abuja on Saturday.
JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!
ADVERTISEMENT
Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:
Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng
Recommended articles
Gov Alia vows to demolish property housing kidnappers, Yahoo boys in Benue
Tinubu appoints former Rivers lawmaker, ex-Naval officer as heads of NESREA, NDRBDA
Court accuses EFCC boss of contempt over handling of Yahaya Bello's case
Fubara donates ₦350m as Navy moves training headquarters from Lagos to Rivers
Bandits invade Defence Minister's hometown, kill 1, abduct scores
Cardiologist bags 4-year jail term over patient deaths
We must continue to support President Tinubu - Ododo tells Kogi residents
Tinubu appoints Zenith Bank founder Jim Ovia to chair student loan fund
Husband begs IGP to find his wife who went missing on official police duty
ADVERTISEMENT
![FCE, Zaria sets committee to investigate 12 students suspected to be cultists [myschoolgist]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg'%20width%3D'300'%20height%3D'172'%20data-ring-placeholder%3D'1'%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E "FCE, Zaria sets committee to investigate 12 students suspected to be cultists [myschoolgist]")