Amid backlash, Emir Sanusi speaks on why he attended WEF in South Africa

After receiving heavy backlash from Nigerians for attending the World Economic Forum, Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has explained that he was in South Africa a day before the violent attacks that resulted in the diplomatic row between Nigeria and the country.

The Federal Government had on Wednesday announced its withdrawal from the World Economic Forum holding in Cape Town over the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other foreign nationals in the country.

However, Emir Sanusi, alongside Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, was present at the event. Also present was a former minister and presidential candidate, Oby Ezekwesili.

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The Emir, speaking with Daily Post, said, “I actually arrived SA on Tuesday morning and attended the World Economic Forum on Wednesday, not knowing what was happening.

“I went there on two categories: one on an invitation by a friend and second on my personal capacity to deliver a paper at the forum, both myself and those who invited us we all boycotted the conference immediately we heard of the diplomatic row.”

Emir Sanusi added that, “Since when we heard of the violence against Nigerians, we never went back to the forum and in fact I’m coming back home tomorrow.”

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