A nine-member delegation from the US Presient, Joe Biden, billed to attend the inauguration of Bola Tinubu, Nigeria’s President-elect, has arrived in Abuja.
The team was welcomed to Nigeria on Sunday by the United States Mission in the West African country.
“Welcome to Nigeria! We are excited to receive the delegation from @POTUS Biden, led by @SecFudge from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, as they join us in Abuja for the inauguration of President-Elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” the U.S. Mission tweeted on its official handle around 5 pm on Sunday.
The U.S. President, Joe Biden, had named the nine-member delegation to attend the inauguration of Tinubu scheduled for Monday, May 29, 2023 in Abuja.
Meanwhile, Tinubu still faces stiff opposition at the Presidential election tribunal amid a February 25 presidential election adjudged as highly compromised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Already, the Labour Party and the Peoples Democratic Party have criticised the US seemingly biased opinion on the contentious election, especially after the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, recently called Tinubu on the phone.
Also expected at the nation’s seventh transition ceremony are past presidents, diplomats, heads of international organisations, prominent Nigerians and representatives of foreign governments and agencies.
The delegation will be led by Secretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, Marcia L. Fudge.
Other members of the Presidential Delegation include Mr. David Greene, Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., U.S. Embassy Abuja; The Honorable Sydney Kamlager-Dove, United States Representative (D), California; The Honorable Marisa Lago, Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, U.S. Department of Commerce; General Michael E. Langley, Commander of U.S. Africa Command; and The Honorable Enoh T. Ebong, Director, U.S. Trade and Development Agency.
Others are The Honorable Mary Catherine Phee, Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of African Affairs, U.S. Department of State; The Honorable Judd Devermont, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for African Affairs, National Security Council and The Honorable Monde Muyangwa, Assistant Administrator for the Bureau for Africa, U.S. Agency for International Development.