PRESIDENT Umaru Yar’Adua left Nigeria on Wednesday afternoon for Italy to attend the meeting of G-8, the world’s eight largest economies.
The president, who had not travelled outside for sometime now, would be at the meeting as an observer/monitor since Nigeria is not among the G-8 countries.
Although there was no statement from the State House, Abuja, on his trip, it was gathered that he was invited to attend the meeting by the members of the G-8 as no African country was qualified to attend the meeting.
The president had been conspicuously absent at international meeting for a long time and his presence at the G-8 meeting is bound to boost Nigeria’s presence at the international level.
The vice-president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has been representing the president at global engagements outside the country and protocol has not allowed the vice- president to enjoy what is due a president at such gatherings.
The meeting in Italy would, among other things, discuss economic crisis, security matters and environmental challenges facing mankind.
Yar’Adua is implementing a 7-point agenda which he hopes would make Nigeria one of the top 20 economies of the world by 2020.
When the G-20 met in London in April, Yar’Adua had lamented that low level of development made it impossible for Nigeria to be attending as full member.
He said at the time that, “I must say that today is a sad day for me and I think it should be for all Nigerians, when 20 leaders of the leading countries of the world are meeting and Nigeria is not there.
“This is something we need to reflect upon. We have the population; we have the potential. We have the capacity and ability. We have the population; we have the collective will. What do we lack? Is it the will that we lack?
“Honestly and sincerely to realise these potentialities; we have the capacity. Potential is nothing unless it is realised. “