Jonathan to Meet Obama on Sunday
From Tokunbo Adedoja in Washington, DC, 04.08.2010

In what would be his first major outing as Acting President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan would be hosted by US President Barack Obama on Sunday at the White House in Washington D.C.
It would be a rare meeting between an American President and a non-substantive president of a country.
The high-level meeting has not been officially announced by both countries.
But sources at the Nigerian Embassy and the US Department of State told THISDAY that all necessary preparations had been made for this important parley.

It was reliably gathered that the meeting was finally sealed on Tuesday when the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Alhaji Ahmed Yayale and US Secretary of State Senator Hillary Clinton met in Washington, D.C., to sign the Bi-national commission agreement between the two countries.
President Obama had sent an invitation to Jonathan last month to attend the Nuclear  Security Summit which is taking place between April 11 and 14. Nigeria’s Ambassador to US Professor Adebowale Adefuye had told Obama while presenting his letter of credence at the White House two weeks ago that Jonathan has accepted his invitation.

It could however not be confirmed if the Acting President would stay throughout the duration of the summit especially when he does not have a Vice-President to take charge of affairs in his absence.
The two leaders are expected to discuss bilateral relations at the meeting which would take place by 5pm on Sunday. The Nigeria-US Bi-national Commission is on the agenda, in addition to global terrorism and counterterrorism measures.
Also to be discussed are issues of regional security and peace-keeping. Nigeria is Africa’s largest contributor to peace-keeping.
Working groups had been formed by the commission to address specific issues. These include: good governance; transparency and Integrity; energy and investment; food security and agriculture; Niger Delta and regional security co-operation.
The Good Governance, Transparency and Integrity working group will be launched  first because of the preparations and reforms necessary to ensure that the 2011 elections are free and fair.

US had last week announced new enhanced aviation security measures and set aside the list of countries of interest (which Nigeria is part of) announced on January 3, 2010, as an emergency security measure after the botched Christmas Day bombing of an American aircraft  by 23-year-old Nigerian, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab.
Although, THISDAY could not get the itinerary of the Acting President's during the visit, it was gathered that he may hold a meeting with selected members of the Nigerian community in that country.
THISDAY also confirmed that the US Secretary,  Department of Homeland Security,  Janet Napolitano, who announced  the new enhanced aviation security measures last week, will arrive Nigeria on  Saturday.

Changes i think positive ones

Hopefully, the US will help with developing and clearing of the ND. Nigeria will be the next South Korea, Japan, Germany or other US cooperation success story if Jonathan can drive our case skillfully.

This is a good start for Nigeria

Beaf:

Hopefully, the US will help with developing and clearing of the ND. Nigeria will be the next South Korea, Japan, Germany or other US cooperation success story if Jonathan can drive our case skillfully.

Hope is coming , lets start getting prepared to go home and contribute our quota

Abeg, i would rather Jonathan stays in Nigeria ooo.
What if he is OUSTED before he returns to the country by the CABAL or the BOYS IN GREEN?

May my luck shine like that of Goodluck and every Yaradua in my way die , in JESUS name

Jonathan should be careful not to leave the country before he finds himself a refugee in a foreign land; the Yar Aduas are too close for comfort and could still come out with some mischief.

He shouldn't stay too long, so that Danbazzau and the cabal wont plan a coup!

I am not an expert in politricks but from history we have learned that sycophants change loyalties once you are out of the country too long (3 days is too much). Goodluck had better have something far-reaching to talk about than getting Nigeria off the terror list.

Electoral Reforms
Power Reforms
Religious Reforms
Economic Reforms (Not Soludonomics or Sanusinomics)

I cannot say i'd hold my breath but this "meet" won't amount to significant benefit to solving a quarter of Nigeria's numerous problems. it is simply a diplomatic show

I dont see Jonathan staying the whole 3days, plus its obvious God is with Jonathan, and hes put in place people like danjuma and co to look after his back.

If we have 5yrs of Jonathan kind of leadership i see everyone running back home!

Ben 10, nairaland is funded by the nigeria government and any view different from this is delete or ban.

You can see iwu just said, only he thinks only an idiot thinks he can carry out electoral reform. We have to face the truth. Only strutural reform can solve nigeria problem.

@becomrich6
are u stupid, why are u posting this kind of pic? stop this ur madness ok?

Googluck, pls be extral ordinary careful.

that is a good one

The Keeper of Israel has neva sleep nor slumber he is watching ova Jona

becomrich6:

Ben 10, nairaland is funded by the nigeria government and any view different from this is delete or ban.

You can see iwu just said, only he thinks only an idiot thinks he can carry out electoral reform. We have to face the truth. Only strutural reform can solve nigeria problem.

this boy again,

u no just they reason at all,

ve told u to go to He, ll

live this forum for us,

Yorubadogia

the way obasanjo started. flying from one country to the other with nothing tangible at the end of it all.
jonathan! jonathan!! jonathan!!! where is ur president? why not first visit yar adua before visiting obama?
a man who has a dead person under his roof does not go on a condolence visit in another man's house.
a man whose house is on fire does not go after rats.
if u like, visit saddam hussien in his grave, ur house is not in order.
we have electorial reforms to fix here, we have iwu to chase away and we have obasanjo dominance to deal with what is the essence of going to america?
better stay here and face our problems.

This is good start for us. At least it will raise our profile internationally. Did I hear you say his goodluck is robbing off on us?

chidichris:

the way obasanjo started. flying from one country to the other with nothing tangible at the end of it all.
jonathan! jonathan!! jonathan!!! where is your president? why not first visit yar adua before visiting obama?
a man who has a dead person under his roof does not go on a condolence visit in another man's house.
a man whose house is on fire does not go after rats.
if u like, visit saddam hussien in his grave, your house is not in order.
we have electorial reforms to fix here, we have iwu to chase away and we have obasanjo dominance to deal with what is the essence of going to america?
better stay here and face our problems.

^^ i disagree with u. Jonathan's presence won't fix electoral reforms.FYI his mission to the US is as important as staying in 9ja. Yaradull had been there for how many years n he did not get an invite frm US cos they all knw he is visionless.

Let us see what would be the outcome, but Jonathan seems to know how to behave well.

Does that mean the usa recognised jonathan more?

.

So who will be the president while Jonathan is away? David Mark? The best thing for Jonathan to do is to stay in Nigeria until Yaradua is officially removed.
He may leave the country and not be able to return like someone said. The cabal may be planning something. Not to sound like a conspiracy theory buffon but what if Jonathan is in on it. What if they planned it togetther that once he leaves the country, "they" would take over. That way it won't seem like Goodluck knows anything about it.!!!!

@becomrich

Has your illness taken a turn for the worse or what?

Does that mean  the usa  recognised  jonathan more?

I hope they dont srip search him before he gets into the whitehouse.

oge4real:

I hope they dont srip search him before he gets into the whitehouse.

Lol

Infact cant wait till next week to hear the news . . . . not sure if CNN will carry it over the weekend