The United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, called the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, because the US understands the importance of Nigeria among the comity of nations, his media aide, Tunde Rahman, has said.
According to him, the US acknowledged Tinubu’s victory during the February 25, 2023 presidential election because the competitive nature of the poll represented a new era in Nigeria’s democracy.
Rahman stated these in an exclusive chat with one of our correspondents on Wednesday.
The PUNCH reports that Blinken had pledged stronger ties between the US and Nigeria during a 20-minute telephone call to Tinubu on Tuesday.
But the call had generated reactions from opposition camps, with the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, describing the conversation between Blinken and Tinubu as “demoralising”.
“I am in disbelief that Secretary Antony Blinken called Tinubu, a contradiction to the publicly stated position of the US on Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election.
‘’This is inconceivable considering that America, as the bastion of democracy, is well briefed on the sham election of February 25. To give legitimacy to the widely acknowledged fraudulent election in Nigeria can be demoralising to citizens who have hedged their bet on democracy and the sanctity of the ballot,’’ Atiku said on his Twitter handle on Wednesday.
But Rahman explained that the endorsement of the incoming administration by the two countries had never been in doubt.
“The US is one of the first countries to acknowledge His Excellency Asíwájú Tinubu’s victory, saying the competitive election represented a new period in Nigeria’s history and democracy. That was in a statement by the State Department Spokesman, Ned Price, on March 1.
“And of course, you should be aware of a recent letter from UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak where he expressed his readiness and delight in working with President-elect Tinubu and even invited him for the Africa-UK investment summit holding next year,” he said.
On what the phone call portended for Nigeria based on US policy in Africa, the media officer stated that it spoke volumes about the numerous potential both countries can benefit from the relationship.
He stated, “What does the telephone call portend? It is that the US understands and appreciates the important place of Nigeria in Africa and in the world at large. President-elect Tinubu and Secretary of State Antony Blinken agreed to bring about and sustain a mutually-beneficial partnership and relationship.
“Both spoke about their shared values with respect to democracy and diversity and agreed to work together in these areas. Secretary Blinken talked about inclusive government. This is what President-elect Tinubu is all about.”
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