The Nation
Posted by: Augustine Ehikioya
President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday admitted that he never spoke with King Mohammed VI of Morocco, contrary to earlier claims by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that he did.
President Jonathan consequently ordered a probe into the controversy on whether or not he had a telephone conversation with the Moroccan king.
His Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, called the controversy a
regrettable furore and said it was brought about in the first instance by misinformation.
Abati, giving the President’s side of the story, said: “It is true that President Jonathan has been speaking with some African leaders to seek their support for Nigeria’s candidate for the position of President of the African Development Bank (AfDB).
“In continuation of his efforts in support of the candidacy of the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, for headship of the AfDB, President Jonathan indicated that he would like to speak with the King of Morocco, the President of Algeria and the President of Egypt.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was consequently directed to make necessary contacts with the embassies of the three countries and arrange for President Jonathan to speak with their leaders.
“Since that directive was given, President Jonathan has spoken with the Prime Minister of Algeria and subsequently sent Vice President Namadi Sambo to Algiers as Special Envoy to follow up on his discussions with the Algerian Prime Minister on support for Nigeria’s candidate in the coming elections for the AfDB Presidency.
“The President has, however, not yet spoken with King Mohammed VI and President Al-Sisi of Egypt as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must know.
“President Jonathan has, therefore, ordered the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali, to urgently undertake a full investigation of the claim which emanated from the ministry that the President spoke with King Mohammed VI.”
The investigation, the statement pointed out, was to identify all those who were responsible for ”the unacceptable act of official misinformation which has resulted in an unnecessary diplomatic row with another country and national embarrassment.
“It is also expected to unveil the motives of the culprits. President Jonathan has also ordered that prompt and commensurate disciplinary action be taken against the culpable person or persons.”
While awaiting the outcome of the investigations, President Jonathan also urged Nigerians to disregard “the vituperations of opposition elements who have, true to type, latched on to the regrettable faux pas as a fresh opportunity to unpatriotically denigrate the government of their country and advance their irresponsible quest for victory at any price in the coming elections.”
Morocco’s Foreign Affairs Ministry last week said King Mohammed VI snubbed President Jonathan who had requested for a telephone conversation which he (Mohammed) suspected was to solicit his support ahead of this month’s presidential election against General Muhammadu Buhari of the APC.
But in a swift reaction, the ministry’s counterpart in Nigeria insisted that President Jonathan indeed spoke with the king.
