Gates’ action, it was believed was part of an unfolding diplomatic row between the US and Nigeria following the controversial pardon granted by President Goodluck Jonathan to his brother, an ex-convict, Mr. Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.
He was scheduled to meet President Goodluck Jonathan, state governors and officials of the Federal Ministry of Health on the polio eradication campaign of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Diplomatic sources said the trip was cancelled after the US government expressed disappointment with the Nigeria for pardoning two convicted money launderers, Alamieyeisegha and Shettima Bulama.
Gates was reported to have already instructed his staff to inform the Nigerian Presidency, the secretariat of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and the Federal Ministry of Health that he was no longer coming.
“The State Department has advised him that Nigeria is not conducive for such visit at this time,” a source told Punch. “We hope that the Nigerian government will get the message and return to the path of sanity.”
You may wish to know that Bill Gates is the biggest foreign supporter of the campaign to eradicate polio in this country and has helped Nigeria since 2009 on this problem.
Diplomatic sources said the trip was cancelled after the US government expressed disappointment with the Nigeria for pardoning two convicted money launderers, Alamieyeisegha and Shettima Bulama.
Gates was reported to have already instructed his staff to inform the Nigerian Presidency, the secretariat of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and the Federal Ministry of Health that he was no longer coming.
“The State Department has advised him that Nigeria is not conducive for such visit at this time,” a source told Punch. “We hope that the Nigerian government will get the message and return to the path of sanity.”
You may wish to know that Bill Gates is the biggest foreign supporter of the campaign to eradicate polio in this country and has helped Nigeria since 2009 on this problem.
But Reuben Abati, who used to condemn such stupid actions of government but now works for Jonathan, has come out to deny the report. He said Bill Gates will come later.
