I was not billed to attend Washington Investment Forum – Fayemi

By Musa Adamu

The minister of Mines and Solid Minerals Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has clarified that he was never meant to be in investment Forum held in Washington, hence, could not have missed it.
Before the latest denial by Dr Fayemi, Minister of Finance Kemi Adeosun, and the Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefele, had both denied confirming their attendance of the event.
The Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, had expressed his disappointment with some Ministers, including Dr Fayemi, for failing to attend the forum, despite being in Washington during the time of the event.
A statement issued by Yinka Oyebode, Special Adviser (Media) to the Minister, said it was necessary to correct some wrong impressions created in the reports as a result of incomplete information.
It said: “This is important for the sake of the public, who deserve to know the true position as follows: Dr Fayemi did not confirm attendance at any investment forum in Washington DC, USA, hence cannot be accused of shunning the event.
“As a matter of fact, the Minister and a few of his colleagues, during the said period were attending some investment forum organized by the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Head of Government meeting (CHOGM), in London, UK.
“There have been instances where names of Ministers and top government officials were announced as participants in some events without proper invitation and confirmation of attendance. This is certainly the case with the Washington event.
“So, to suggest that that Dr Fayemi was in Washington and chose not to attend the event could not have been an accurate account of what transpired. He was certainly nowhere near America and the organizers cannot say he confirmed to be at the event.”
It said organisers of important events should not always assume they had put the necessary steps in place when they simply had not taken the pain to invite and also confirm attendance at an event.