Frauds FCT Minister and Nigerian president turned down Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's plea for a private meeting.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's recent trip to Nigeria has been far from smooth, marking their return to the spotlight after maintaining a low profile for some time. The couple's colorful display of cultural connection arrived an hour late to a Women's Leadership Summit. At the event, Meghan delivered a speech, albeit lacking substance, where she declared Nigeria as her country, having discovered her Nigerian heritage through a genealogy test.
Addressing the crowd at the summit held at the World Trade Organization in the capital Abuja, Meghan expressed gratitude for the warm reception she and Harry received. She even shared a humorous anecdote about receiving advice to wear more colorful attire to better connect with the locals on a cultural level. "I want to start by saying thank you very much for just how gracious you've all been in welcoming my husband and me to this country, my country," Harry's wife said. However, sources reported that Nigerian president Bola Tanbu decided to snub the couple's visit, indicating that it wasn't a priority amidst pressing matters in Abuja.
Social media buzzed with leaked texts suggesting that Meghan and Harry weren't scheduled to meet the president. It's a scenario common for many foreign celebrities when visiting, but the couple's lack of meeting with the president or even the FCT Minister, akin to the governor of Abuja, reflects their perceived importance. Understandably, the absence of a red-carpet reception amidst pressing matters in Abuja isn't surprising. However, this snub could lead to awkwardness with King Charles, especially considering the Nigerian president's previous meeting with him at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai last year.
During the three-day visit, Prince Harry and Meghan aimed to promote the Invictus Games, celebrating its 10th year, with Nigeria being considered as a prospective host country. Despite no decision being made yet, this trip to West Africa is seen by some as a PR effort to enhance the couple's image. Critics argue that Prince Harry, no longer representing the crown, is now perceived more as a reality star than a royal figure.
They believe that Harry and Meghan are striving to appear more significant than they are. Initially expected to be discreet and private, their visit increasingly resembles a royal tour, as they engage in activities typically associated with official royal visits, further integrating themselves into Commonwealth territory. However, some have criticized Meghan's choice of attire, likening it to that of a hungover cougar visiting a bar.
