Six-man ministerial team to Saudi gives report to ECF

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Six-man ministerial team to Saudi gives report to ECF

...did not see Yar'AduaThe six-man ministerial delegation to Saudi Arabia to convey the message of the Federal Government and also visit ailing President Umaru Yar'Adua on Wednesday officially presented its report to the Executive Council of the Federation (ECF) with the claim that they did not see Yar'Adua before he returned back to the country. The president returned into the country last week Wednesday after three months of medical treatment in Saudi Arabia.The report, which was presented by Yayale Ahmed, secretary to the government of the federation, to the council and read by Dora Akunyili, minister of information and communications, said the delegation was informed of President Yar'Adua's discharge from the hospital by Abdullahi Aminchi, Nigerian ambassador to Saudi Arabia. Akunyili said the delegation had to return to the country without seeing Yar'Adua.Below are excerpts of the report: "Recall that on the 17th of February council constituted a six-man cabinet delegation to visit President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua who was hospitalised in Saudi Arabia. They were also to convey the appreciation of the government and the good people of Nigeria to the Saudi monarch for the care and support given to our president. Membership of the delegation was as follows: Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, CFR, leader of the delegation; Chief Ojo Maduekwe, CFR, member; Dr. Rilwanu Lukman, CFR, member; Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, SAN, member; Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin, OON, member, and Dr. Abba Sayyadi Ruma, member. "Preparatory to this visit, the acting president had addressed a letter to the Royal Majesty, King Abdullah Bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, introducing the delegation as a special envoy from the presidency. In the letter, the acting president conveyed the profound appreciation and deep gratitude of the government and the entire people of Nigeria to the king for the kindness, hospitality, fraternal care and excellent facilities extended to President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua. "The delegation reported that they departed Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, early hours of Tuesday, 23rd February 2010, some minutes after midnight. On their arrival in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, they were received by the Nigerian ambassador, Alhaji Abdullahi Aminchi and the Royal Protocol Personnel and driven straight to the Conference Palace, where they were accommodated. "Prior to their arrival, the Nigerian ambassador had secured appointment for them to be received by His Highness, Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Saudi's minister of foreign affairs at 18.00 hours on the 23rd February, 2010. The foreign minister received us on behalf of the Saudi King and re-affirmed the commitment of the Saudi government to promoting good relationship with Nigeria. He also assured the delegation that the health of President Yar'Adua was improving. The delegation thanked the Saudi foreign minister for the warm reception and the hospitality which the kingdom accorded to them and delivered the acting president's letter to him for onward transmission to His Royal Majesty, King Abdullah Bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud. "Thereafter, the Nigerian ambassador, Alhaji Abdullahi Aminchi informed the delegation that he had received information that President Yar'Adua had been discharged and was on his way back to Abuja. From all indications, the president must have departed Jeddah airport at about 10p.m, Saudi time on Tuesday 23rd, February 2010. With news that the president had left Saudi Arabia for Nigeria, the delegation did not consider it necessary to proceed to Jeddah, where the president was hospitalised. Accordingly, they decided to return to Nigeria. "The delegation departed Riyadh at about 5.30a.m on Wednesday 24th, February 2010 and arrived in Abuja at about 10.30a.m. "The acting president was accordingly briefed on their return".The report was signed by secretary to the government of the federation, who was head of the delegation.

Source: Businessday :: News you can trust

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