The Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi has accused the United States Government of taking sides in the development of Nigeria’s Politics over the Secretary of State, Antony Blinken’s call to President-elect, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu.
Obi took to his social media platform to express dissatisfaction over this call made to Nigerian President-elect on 16th May 2023, where the Secretary of State emphasized his continued commitment to further strengthening the U.S.-Nigeria relationship with the incoming administration.
According to Obi, “There is still a lack of clarity on the basis of the U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken’s call to APC’s presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu on 16th May 2023. The most fundamental tenet and core value of democracy is the rule of law.
Adding that, “Nigeria’s democracy is founded on these principles which the American people hold dear. Without the risk of interfering in Nigeria’s domestic affairs, the U.S.-Nigeria relationship should be guided by the core values of democracy”.
He stressed that Nigerians expected that the U.S. responses to the country’s affairs should be based on mutual respect, shared ideals, aspirations and interests which ought to transcend the considerations of any individual.
Peter Obi pointed out that the willful manipulation and falsification of the will of Nigerians as freely expressed during the February 25 elections should not be overlooked by the true friends and partners of Nigeria.
LP Presidential candidate said further that it’s thus of overarching importance that a beacon of democracy like the United States should not respond to political developments in Nigeria in a manner that faintly suggests taking sides.
“There is an evolving political and judicial process around the last presidential election in Nigeria. We expect the United States to await the full resolution of the ongoing judicial processes before tacitly conferring legitimacy on any of the contending parties.
“The final determination of the true winner of the election can only be made by the relevant courts of law. More so, the issues in judicial contention imply far-reaching violations of both the Nigerian Electoral Law and the Nigerian Constitution”, he said.
