Politics

[JUST IN] FULL LIST: U.S President Announces Delegation To Inauguration Of Bola Tinubu

Published

12 months ago

May 23, 2023

Editor

U.S President, Joe Biden

U.S. President Joseph Biden, Jr. announced on Monday the appointment of a Presidential Delegation to attend the inauguration of Nigerian President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu on May 29, 2023, in Abuja, Nigeria.

Leading the delegation will be Marcia L. Fudge, Secretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Members of the Presidential Delegation include Mr. David Greene, Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Abuja, and Sydney Kamlager-Dove, United States Representative (D) from California. The delegation also includes Marisa Lago, Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade at the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Joining them will be General Michael E. Langley, Commander of U.S. Africa Command, and Enoh T. Ebong, Director of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency. Additionally, the delegation includes the Mary Catherine Phee, Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of African Affairs at the U.S. Department of State.

Judd Devermont, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for African Affairs at the National Security Council, as well as Monde Muyangwa, Assistant Administrator for the Bureau for Africa at the U.S. Agency for International Development, will also be part of the delegation.

The delegation represents the commitment of the United States to strengthen ties and maintain diplomatic relations with Nigeria. Their presence at the inauguration underscores the importance the Biden administration places on bilateral cooperation and engagement with African nations.

Even as President Biden is sending a delegation to Nigeria, opposition figures continue to claim that the election was not free and fair and was rigged.

Last Wednesday, Nigerian presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar took to Twitter to express his disbelief over a phone call made on Tuesday by U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken to Nigerian President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Abubakar argued that legitimizing what he described as a widely acknowledged fraudulent election can be demoralizing for citizens who trust in democracy and the sanctity of the ballot.

The former Nigerian Vice President tweeted, “I am in disbelief that @SecBlinken called Tinubu, contradicting 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 demoralizing to citizens who have hedged their bet on democracy and the sanctity of the ballot @StateDept @POTUS @USinNigeria. -AA”

During the call, Secretary Blinken reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening the U.S.-Nigeria relationship under Tinubu’s incoming administration.

The discussion focused on shared interests, strong people-to-people ties, inclusive leadership, comprehensive security cooperation, and economic reforms to drive growth.

He emphasized the importance of continuing to strengthen the bilateral ties between the two nations under President-elect Tinubu’s tenure.

While Abubakar expressed disbelief over the call, it is essential to note that the U.S. has also announced visa restrictions on specific individuals in Nigeria who have been found to undermine the democratic process during Nigeria’s 2023 election cycle.

Secretary Blinken clarified that these restrictions target specific individuals and not the Nigerian people or the Government of Nigeria as a whole. The U.S. aims to hold accountable those involved in voter intimidation, manipulation of vote results, and activities that undermine the democratic process.

Separately, a U.S. convoy vehicle was attacked in the southeastern state of Anambra, resulting in the tragic deaths of two police officers and two staff members from the U.S. consulate. The attackers set their bodies and vehicles ablaze. While no U.S. citizens were harmed, the incident raises concerns about the safety of American personnel operating in Nigeria and highlights the volatile situation in the region.

As tensions escalate ahead of President-elect Tinubu’s inauguration on May 29, there have been significant unrest and concerns about the aftermath of the election.

It remains unclear whether the attack on the U.S. convoy is linked to the election or motivated by other factors such as criminal or extremist motives.

The developments surrounding the U.S.-Nigeria relationship, the contested election, and the attack on the U.S. convoy underline the complex political and security landscape in Nigeria. The upcoming inauguration and ongoing investigations will shed more light on the situation, as stakeholders strive to address these challenges and foster a democratic and stable Nigeria.

The inauguration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu marks a significant moment for Nigeria, and the Presidential Delegation will participate in the event to further enhance the relationship between the United States and Nigeria.

Source: Today News Africa

Related Topics:#Bola Tinubu #Tinubu Antony Blinken Joe Biden

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Atiku Hints On Supporting Obi For 2027 Presidential Race

Published

21 hours ago

May 18, 2024

Editor

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has said that if in 2027, the party decides that it is the South-East’s turn and selects Peter Obi as its candidate, he will readily offer his support.

“I have said repeatedly and I even said it before the 2023 general elections that if the PDP decides to zone the presidential ticket to the South or South-East specifically, I won’t contest it. As long as it’s the decision of the party, I will abide by it. But I contested the 2023 presidential ticket because it was thrown open to all members of the party.

“If the party decides that it’s the turn of the South-East and Peter Obi is chosen, I won’t hesitate to support him,” Atiku declared in a recent interview with BBC Hausa Service.

He added that a merger between the PDP and Labour Party is possible.

Atiku added that members of the party would decide his fate in the 2027 general elections.

The former Vice President mentioned that his recent meeting with Obi might indicate a possible alliance leading up to the 2027 general elections.

Responding to questions about the meeting with Obi, Atiku said, “It’s just a normal friendly meeting that we often have, particularly among us in the opposition parties. Such meetings are healthy for Nigeria’s democracy and in the country’s interest.”

On whether this will bring about a merger, he said, “Yes, it’s very much possible. We can merge to achieve a common goal. So, it’s possible, and nothing can stop it if we wish to achieve that.”

The former Vice President, who denied that the choice of presidential candidate might frustrate the merger discussion, said, “That’s not true. That challenge will not arise. I can tell you that the choice of who will fly the flag of the party won’t be an issue.”

On why he’s still in active politics, Atiku said, “Yes, we can’t keep quiet and watch things go wrong. People are suffering and we are committed to making Nigeria a better place.

“It means you are not tired of politics of Nigeria? Not at all. I am still in active politics in Nigeria, at least, as long as God permits.

“My age doesn’t stop the young ones from testing their fate. Everybody, irrespective of age, is allowed to aspire to be anybody in the society, politically or otherwise.”

Regarding his 2027 Presidential ambition, the former Vice President said “That would depend on the decision of my party. I can’t make any categorical statement on that. It’s the duty of the party to decide on the way to go in the next election.

“Until that time comes. Let’s just wait and see how it will turn out.

“It must not be interpreted like that. I must not be eyeing elections to have meetings with political friends and associates. Currently, we are practising democracy in this country which we fought for with our blood.”

Last week, Obi held a private meeting with Atiku and some other PDP leaders in Abuja.

Obi also met separately with former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido and former Senate President Bukola Saraki, sparking speculation about a possible coalition for the 2027 general elections.

Obi was a PDP member until 2022, when he left to pursue his presidential ambitions with the Labour Party.

He finished third behind Atiku in the February 23 presidential election, which was won by Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress.

Atiku blamed Obi’s departure from the PDP for his loss to Tinubu.

Analysts argued that Atiku’s 6,984,520 votes combined with Obi’s 6,101,533 votes could have secured a win against Tinubu, who received 8,794,726 votes.

Monday’s meeting marked the first public interaction between Obi and Atiku since the election.

Social media and online platforms were flooded with viral photos of Obi’s meetings with the three PDP figures on Monday.

In 2019, Atiku and Obi ran together on the PDP ticket but were defeated by former President Muhammadu Buhari of the APC.

However, due to internal conflicts, Obi, who was Atiku’s running mate in 2019, left the PDP and ran as the Labour Party’s candidate in the 2023 presidential election.

Politics

JUST IN: Ex-PDP Deputy National Chair, Oyedokun Defects To APC

Published

2 days ago

May 16, 2024

Editor

A former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun, has resigned his membership of the party and announced defection to the All Progressives Congress.

Oyedokun, a notable personality within the political circle in Osun State and beyond, said he decided to dump the PDP after consultation with his loyalists.

He said he would be joining APC, where his experience, efforts, and leadership roles would be valued and appreciated.

His resignation letter addressed to the National Chairman of the PDP through the ward, local government and state chairmen of the party obtained late Thursday further read, “As a functional member and leader of PDP (Ward 13, Jagun/ Osi-Bale Ode, Odo-Otin South Local Government, Osun State,) whose high electoral productivity and value have been credibly and positively acknowledged in my ward, across the local council, state and country-wide for the enhancement of the fortune of the PDP, I have the honour (though with pain) in announcing the renunciation of my membership of the party on principle, having observed that the ideals of we, founding members, had been sorely contaminated.

“In taking this step which is not even without due consultation with my teaming loyalists in the PDP, I have consequently decided to shift my allegiance to the All Progressives Congress (APC) where I believe my experience, efforts and leadership roles would be valued and appreciated.”

Oyedokun’s defection to the APC is coming at the time the aspirant he supported during the 2022 Osun governorship primary of PDP, Mr Dotun Babayemi is also moving to the national ruling party.

Osun APC said on Wednesday that Babayemi and his supporters would be dumping PDP and joining the party at a rally scheduled to be held in Osogbo on Friday.
PUNCH

Politics

Poll: APC Has No Sellable Candidate, Nothing To Campaign On – Edo Govt

Published

5 days ago

May 13, 2024

Editor

The Edo State Government claimed on Monday that the All Progressives Congress, APC, has no credible candidate for the September 21 governorship election.

This was an assertion made by the Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, at a press conference in Benin City.

Nehikhare also alleged that the party is using lies and propaganda as its campaign strategy.

According to him: “The only APC strategy for the governorship election is to resort to lies and propaganda. When a party takes lies and propaganda as an election strategy, it means it has nothing to offer the people. The party lacks people with character, capacity, and intellect.”

The commissioner who took journalists through a screened shot WhatsApp chat said: “What we have here is the official APC WhatsApp platform, their own people screenshot their discussion. One of them who has a conscience asks, is this the only thing we have?”

Nehikhare, who said APC is ashamed to campaign for its candidate, noted that, as of today, nobody had heard of what the party has for the state.

“All we heard is how they are going to help their paymaster, lies and propaganda that will not help the state,” he added.

He opined that lies and propaganda are not strategies the opposition party, like APC, can use to win the September 21 governorship election.

The commissioner, who warned against misinformation and fake news ahead of the governorship election, urged media practitioners to be neutral in matters concerning lies and propaganda.

He, however, noted that Governor Godwin Obaseki’s administration has a lot of achievements to market and sell its candidate for the election.