Why I Didn’t Attend Atiku’s Book Launch – Anyaoku

Elder statesman, Emeka Anyaoku, has revealed the reasons he was not at the book launch by the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar.

In a statement he personally signed on Wednesday, Anyaoku said the organisers of the event failed to consult him before he was named as the Special Guest of Honour, stressing that he didn’t agree to attend the event.

The former Commonwealth Secretary-General also disclosed that he was not formally invited to the event held on Wednesday morning in Abuja, and could not attend the book launch without an invite.

Anyaoku, however, stated that he remains nonpartisan, adding that the next President should be someone who is competent and has the capacity to address the various challenges facing the country.

The statement read: “My attention has been drawn to the announcement in This Day newspaper of 26/9/22 that I would be a Special Guest of Honour at Atiku Abubakar’s book presentation scheduled for 28th September at Chida Hotels Events Centre in Abuja.

“Given the understandable propensity to read political meanings in public associations at this time of competition by political parties in the context of 2023 national elections, I wish to unequivocally state that nobody sought and obtained my agreement to be present at this particular book presentation.

“I have accepted the unreserved apologies rendered to me by the organizers of the event, and wish to reiterate that I remain non-partisan in praying that my country Nigeria will in 2023 elect people of proven competence and character whose sole mission will be to serve the national interests.”