The Presidency has reacted to news reports that President Goodluck Jonathan was absent at the CHOGM Forum and failed to deliver a scheduled speech at the ongoing Commonwealth Summit in Australia.

However, President Jonathan Friday in Perth, Australia urged leaders of the Commonwealth to build on the organisation’s established values and principles to achieve economic and social progress for their citizens.

Group photograph of Commonwealth Heads of Government after the opening summit of their 2011 meeting today, Friday in Perth.

President Jonathan who spoke while proposing a toast to the Commonwealth at a banquet given by Queen Elizabeth ll for Heads of State and Government participating in the Commonwealth Summit, said that the values and attributes shared by its member-countries will ensure that the Commonwealth continues to remain relevant in global affairs for the foreseeable future.

According to him, “the fact that the Commonwealth is now globally recognised as a force for good, particularly in the areas of democracy and development, bears testimony to the widespread acceptance of its established values and principles.

“We must build on these attributes and strive to strengthen our rainbow coalition of governments, civil society and businesses to deliver public good and beneficial outcomes to Commonwealth citizens.”

The President thanked Queen Elizabeth ll for leading the Commonwealth with “passion, dedication and commitment” over the past six decades.

However, in a press statement, the Media Adviser to the President, Dr. Reuben Abati described the media story which said President did not attend the CHOGM event as mischievous and that the innuendoes contained therein are entirely misleading.

According to him, President Jonathan was not scheduled to deliver the keynote speech at the forum. “The truth is as follows: On Wednesday, President Jonathan delivered the keynote address at the Commonwealth Business Forum on the theme: “Unleashing Africa’s Potentials: A New Vision.” Attended by a capacity crowd of over 2, 000, the event set the tone for subsequent deliberations at the Commonwealth Business Forum, and the President’s presentation was well received. “ The President was not scheduled to deliver speeches at two events on Thursday as claimed. Rather, he was required to participate in another Business Forum: “Africa – Creating a New Economic Power for the 21st Century”. It was agreed that the state Governors attending CHOGM should attend this event and use the opportunity to showcase trade and investment potentials in their various states. In this regard, the Governors of Ogun, Oyo, Kaduna, Akwa Ibom, Benue and Gombe states participated in the Forum, and in their various presentations, they further explored the themes contained in President Jonathan’s keynote address. Similarly, President Jonathan asked the Minister of Mines and Steel Development to attend the Mining Roundtable.”

The media adviser explained that before this, the President had held bilateral meetings with the Hon. Colin Barnett, MPA, Premier of Western Australia, the Prime Minister of Australia, Hon. Ms Julia Gillard, MP, and Governor-General of Australia, Hon. (Ms.) Quentin Bryce AC., adding that the President Jonathan deserves commendation, not embarrassment, for the sense of duty, leadership, and commitment that he continues to demonstrate in bringing Nigeria “out of the woods” of international relations.