“Mr President has removed the title, ‘Commander of the Armed Forces,’ Vice-President Namadi Sambo said at the Oxford University, where he delivered a lecture to the Oxford International Relations Society.
“He (Jonathan) has directed that he should only be referred to as Mr President,’’ NAN quoted Sambo as saying.
The vice-president, who was responding to a question from the audience on why Nigerian leaders were being addressed by a series of titles, added that the long list of protocols at official events had also been dropped.
“During the declaration where we declared to participate in the up-coming elections, it was very clear that Mr President said reading of long list of protocols before the main address be reduced,’’ Sambo said.
The vice-president added: ``If you noticed, if it were before, I would recognise everybody on my entourage and the audience, including you.’’
Sambo, in his lecture entitled: ``Vision 20:2020: Nigeria’s Agenda for the Membership of the New Emergent G20 Economic Group,’’ said Nigeria’s contribution at the global stage qualified it to be a member of the G20.
``As a regional power, Nigeria has undertaken tasks and incurred huge costs, both in financial and human terms, in furtherance of international peace and security that major powers have often applauded.
``Since membership of the G20 does not reflect exactly the 20 largest economies of the world, it is only fair that Nigeria be admitted for her various contributions, for geographical balance and population representation,’’ he said.
He also expressed the belief that the current capital-led reforms and focused leadership of the present administration would propel economic growth for the country.
Sambo urged development partners and investors to partner with government in investing in Nigeria, ``Africa’s largest market where returns on investment are guaranteed.’’
The vice-president, who began a three-day visit to the U.K on Wednesday, held a meeting with Mr Henry Billingham, MP and U.K Minister for Africa and the UN, Mr Stephen O'Brien, Under Secretary for International Development responsible for Africa.
He was accompanied by the governor of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Godswill Akpabio, ministers of National Planning and Works, Dr Shamsudeen Usman and Senator Muhammed Daggash; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mrs Salamatu Ibrahim and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Martins Uhomoibhi.
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