The Emir of the State of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has rescheduled a proposed visit to his country by Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari.
Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani is the head of the government of the nation of Qatar. He is also the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces and guarantor of the constitution.
The Emir holds the most powerful position in the country and has a prominent role in foreign relations.
According to SaharaReporters, the Nigerian government had proposed September 11 and 12, 2022 for Buhari to visit the country. However, the Emir in a note verbale exclusively obtained said the dates are not suitable for him and asked for other dates in 2023.
Excerpts of the verbale note sent on August 19: “The Embassy of the State of Qatar in Abuja presents its compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Regions Department) and with reference to the latter’s Note M 403/2022 dated 12/08/2022 informing that H.E Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has accepted to visit Qatar on 11-12 September 2022 on invitation of H.H Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar.
“Has the honour to communicate that the proposed dates for the visit are not suitable and kindly request the Nigerian side to propose other dates for the visit during the first quarter of the year 2023.
“The Embassy of the State of Qatar avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Regions Department) the assurance of its highest consideration.”
However, a presidential source blamed the State Chief of Protocol (SCOP), Amb. Lawal Kazaure and his team for the rejection.
Actually, it was the Emir that invited President Buhari to come on the sate visit. Unfortunately, his team are said to have failed to follow the usual diplomatic channel to accept and propose alternative dates.
“After over 3months without a word, the State House wrote directly to Qatar Embassy in Abuja to inform that President Buhari wants to visit from 11-12 September 2022. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was not involved. Our Embassy in Doha, capital of Qatar was not also consulted.”
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