Honestly what were they talking about ? IBB is still related with extradition charges for his role involving money laundering and other nefarious activities and was purported to be on the US watch-list throughout the time he spent at his late wife's hospital bedside in the US .Johnnie Carson is even his personal friend hmmm ???
Story:
FormeR military president, General Ibrahim Babangida and officials of the United States of America (USA) met for almost two hours in Minna, the Niger State capital, on Wednesday.
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Photo Asst sec Of State Johnnie Carson
The meeting was held behind closed doors with the Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Matters, Mr. Jonnie Carson, and the American Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms Robin Sanders, in attendance.
Mr. Carson and Ms Sander arrived the Hill Top residence of General Babangida at about 10.30 a.m in a white Suburban space bus with registration number 140 CD151.
Two other vehicles of the same make but different colours conveyed the securitymen and personal staff of the envoys to Minna.
On arrival at the IBB residence, the former military president, who had been waiting for the visitors, ushered them into his office where the meeting was held.
The meeting ended at about 12.04 p.m after which the visitors returned to Abuja by road.
Newsmen were not allowed to either speak with the envoys or the former military president before and after the meeting because the Assistant Secretary of State did not want the visit in the press. Journalists were walked out of the IBB mansion so that they would not be within listening distance or position to take pictures.
However, a top aide of General Babangida told the Nigerian Tribune that the visit was "a condolence and private visit."
According to the aide, Mr. Carson is a personal friend of General Babangida and he visited the former first lady twice when she was in hospital in California.
Johnnie Carson
Assistant Secretary
BUREAU OF AFRICAN AFFAIRS
Term of Appointment: 05/07/2009 to present
Ambassador Johnnie Carson was sworn in as Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of African Affairs, on May 7, 2009. Prior to this he was the National Intelligence Officer for Africa at the NIC, after serving as the Senior Vice President of the National Defense University in Washington D.C. (2003-2006).
Carson's 37-year Foreign Service career includes ambassadorships to Kenya (1999-2003), Zimbabwe (1995-1997), and Uganda (1991-1994); and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of African Affairs (1997-1999). Earlier in his career he had assignments in Portugal (1982-1986), Botswana (1986-1990), Mozambique (1975-1978), and Nigeria (1969-1971). He has also served as desk officer in the Africa section at State's Bureau of Intelligence and Research (1971-1974); Staff Officer for the Secretary of State (1978-1979), and Staff Director for the Africa Subcommittee of the US House of Representatives (1979-1982).
Before joining the Foreign Service, Ambassador Carson was a Peace Corps volunteer in Tanzania from 1965-1968. He has a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science from Drake University and a Master of Arts in International Relations from the School of Oriental and Africa Studies at the University of London.
Ambassador Carson is the recipient of several Superior Honor Awards from the Department of State and a Meritorious Service Award from Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. The Centers for Disease Control presented Ambassador Carson its highest award, "Champion of Prevention Award," for his leadership in directing the U.S. Government's HIV/AIDS prevention efforts in Kenya.
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