• US-Nigeria partnership is built on shared interests -Antony Blinken

• Former VP, Atiku kicks

 

‘Seun Ibukun-Oni, Abuja

 

DAILY COURIER – Nigeria’s President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu has promised to hit the ground running and unify the country upon his assumption of office on May 29. He also pledged to ensure positive relations with the United States.

 

A statement by Tunde Rahman from the Office of the President-elect today May 17, disclosed Asíwájú Tinubu made the pledges during a telephone conversation Tuesday night with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

 

The telephone discussion which was initiated by the US diplomat, the statement noted was frank and friendly.

 

“The President-elect said that among his immediate priorities would be to deliver institutional reforms and development programs to deepen our democratic institutions and bring help to poor and vulnerable Nigerians.

 

“He also expressed his determination to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy and faithfully serve the people as their president” it reads.

 

A statement released by the State Department Spokesman, Mathew Miller, stated that Blinken observed the US-Nigeria partnership is built on shared interests and strong people-to-people ties.

 

The Secretary emphasized that these ties and those links should continue to strengthen under President-elect Tinubu’s tenure, while both leaders discussed importance of inclusive leadership that represents Nigerians, continued comprehensive security cooperation, and reforms to support economic growth.

 

During the talks that lasted about 20 minutes, President-elect Tinubu spoke about his eventful sojourn in America in the 70s, where he graduated with honours as an accountant in 1979.

 

He also recalled how he was granted asylum by the US when, due to his determined struggle for democracy in Nigeria, he was forced into exile by the late General Sani Abacha’s military junta.

 

While affirming his democratic bonafides , President-elect Tinubu expressed his absolute belief that the result of the elections, which he clearly won, reflected the will of the Nigerian people.

 

He said he would work to unite the country and ensure that Nigerians are happy and enjoy the benefits of democracy and progressive good governance.

 

Responding to Secretary Blinken, the President-elect said without national unity, security, economic development and good governance, Nigeria would not become a better place to live in or play her proper role in the comity of African nations.

 

He urged the US to factor in Nigeria’s important place in Africa and provide needed assistance in the areas of security and economic investment in order for the nation to lead the way and be a shining example to the rest of the continent.

 

Secretary Blinken assured that Nigeria should expect a good and mutually-beneficial relationship with the US.

 

He promised to play his part in bringing a sustained and cordial relationship between the two nations to fruition, saying a democratic and peaceful Nigeria is important to the United States as it is to Africa.

 

Both President-elect Tinubu and Secretary Blinken ended their discussion with pleasant greetings and a promise to keep the channels of dialogue and communication open, while maintaining a strong relationship between the two nations.

 

Meanwhile, former Nigerian Vice President and People’s Democratic Party Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar has criticised the call made by the United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken to the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

 

Atiku in a cryptic post on his social media platform Wednesday said he could not believed that such call could be made contrarily to the United States position on Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election.

 

According to former Vice President, “I am in disbelief that the Secretary Blinken called Tinubu, a contradiction to the publicly stated position of the US on Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election.”

 

He added, “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”, the PDP Presidenctial Candidate said.

 

The President elect is expected back in the country this weekend to settle down before his official swearing in on May 29, 2023.