US First Lady Jill Biden hosted a goodbye luncheon for First Ladies from around the world, including Nigeria’s Oluremi Tinubu, on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Reflecting on the bonds formed during her tenure, Jill said on Wednesday that this would be her final such meeting as First Lady of the United States.
She thanked them for their continuous commitment to advancing global peace and development and assured them that their relationship will continue even when she leaves office in January 2025.
“I wish you all the best as you return to your respective countries, especially those with long journeys ahead,” Jill Biden said in a statement on X by Busola Kukoyi, spokesperson for Tinubu.
These luncheons, which are common during the UNGA, provide an opportunity for global leaders and their spouses to engage in bilateral discussions, improve diplomatic ties, and foster partnerships.
Tinubu attended the luncheon at Pier 57 in New York, which marked the completion of her obligations at the 79th UNGA session.
Chronicle NG reports that the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is an annual event where representatives from all 193 UN member states gather to discuss and address global issues.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Is Anthony Odiong still a priest after life in prison sentence over rape?")
