By Thompson ABISOLA
President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday received double honours as the State of New Jersey and City of Philadelphia gave him special citations in New York.
Buhari had made a presentation at the ‘High Level Roundtable on Corruption, Migration and Bridging Africa’s Infrastructure Gap’, a programme on the margins of the 73rd United Nations General Assembly.
After his presentation, Diane Campbell, representing Sen. Turner of New Jersey, then stepped forward and read a citation of Buhari, acknowledging his military, professional and political strides.
The Nigerian leader, who was surprised and least expected the honour at such a high level meeting, stood straight and still, as the hall erupted in a round of applause.
The Chairman, Nigerian Coalition for Business Development and Investment, Dr Jude Iheoma, also read a citation of Buhari on behalf of the City of Philadelphia.
Present to witness the honour were international investors and captains of industry, Ministers, Directors-General and Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, Chief Executive Officer of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) International.
The Head of NEPAD Nigeria, Mrs Gloria Akobundu; Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, former Minister of External Affairs; and top senior government officials from Nigeria were also present at the event.
Mr Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, in a statement on the unexpected honours bestowed on the Nigerian leader said: “Truly, nothing succeeds like success”.
