MID-DAY UPDATES: Soyinka, Utomi, others may meet Obama in Ghana

There are indications that Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress in the 2007 elections, Prof. Pat Utomi, as well as some leading members of the Nigerian academia and opposition political class may meet with United States President Barack Obama during his visit to Ghana on July 11.
Our correspondent gathered that officials of the State Department had already started accrediting personalities expected at the parley. However, our correspondent could not confirm how many Nigerians would be present at the meeting.
However, the Convener, Nigerian Liberty Forum, Mr. Kayode Ogundamisi, confirmed to our correspondent by email that Soyinka had already been confirmed for the meeting. He stated that the NLF had already sent two representatives but added that he could not confirm if they had been able to get accreditation.
When contacted on the telephone on Friday afternoon, Utomi claimed ignorance of the meeting. Although he said he would like to meet with Obama, Utomi said he was yet to get any information about whether he was included among those to meet with the US president during the state visit.Others expected to meet with Obama include a delegation of Nigerians in the Diaspora and non-governmental organizations.