By FEMI SALAWU
American First Lady, Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and the Secretary of State, John Kerry are being tipped as among those who will head a powerful US presidential delegation for the May 29 inaugurations of President-Elect General Muhammadu Buhari as President of the Federal Republic Of Nigeria, Premium Times has reported.
In addition, some of the senior members of the US Congress are said to be planning to attend the event including the Chairman of the US House of Representatives Sub Committee on Africa, Congressman Chris Smith among others.
PT attributed unnamed U.S. government sources who revealed some of those who Mr. Obama is considering to lead the American representatives to the May 29 event in Abuja.
The U.S. President normally announces a delegation to the presidential inaugurations of friendly nations being led by the Ambassador in that country.
Nigeria’s Ambassador to the U.S., Ade Adefuye, said, “I have been told that there would be an unusually large American delegation that will attend the presidential inauguration on May 29″.
He confirmed to journalists on Wednesday that he has also been told that a very senior member of the U.S. government is expected to lead the delegation, but that there was no confirmation yet.
The Nigerian Ambassador said he has been in consultations with the U.S. State Department on the matter, adding that President Goodluck Jonathan has already extended an invitation to the U.S. government.
“We are following up with the US government to ensure a very large US presence at the inauguration,” the Ambassador said Tuesday in Washington DC.
Mr. Adefuye explained that “Nigeria’s profile has been on the rise since after the election, the concession by Jonathan, and with the smooth transition that is going on”.
