row that has developed between the Nigerian Government and the King of
Morocco, King Mohammed VI over a purported telephone conversation,
saying that he never spoke with the king.
The president, while denying that any conversation took place, also
ordered the minister of foreign affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali, to
conduct a full scale investigation to unravel the source of the media
report alleging that a telephone conversation occurred with Monarch.
However, the All Progressives Congress (APC), while reacting to the
incident asked President Goodluck Jonathan to apologize to Nigerians
for the embarrassment that he has caused Nigerian over the phantom
phone conversation.
The president said he "is shocked, surprised and highly embarrassed by
the controversy that has erupted over whether or not" he had a
telephone conversation with King Mohammed VI.
According to the President's Special Adviser on Media and Publicity,
Dr. Reuben Abati, the minister must fish out those responsible for
such misinformation in the foreign affairs ministry, which has not
only embarrassed the country but also led to diplomatic row with the
North African country.
Stressing that the motives for the misinformation must be uncovered,
he also ordered that disciplinary action should be taken against them.
Briefing journalists in Aso Rock yesterday, Abati said, "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 is 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".
Abati said the "regrettable furore that has developed over the matter
is due entirely to misinformation as President Jonathan has neither
spoken with King Mohammed or told anybody that he had a telephone
conversation with the Moroccan Monarch".
He, however, admitted that President Jonathan had 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).
Clarifying on the extent the president has gone so far, Abati said,
"In continuation of his efforts in support of the candidacy of the
Minister of Agriculture, Dr. 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 President".
Maintaining that Jonathan did not speak with the Moroccan Monarch, the
presidential spokesman said, "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.
"While awaiting the outcome of the investigations, President Jonathan
urges 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".
But the APC which issued a statement in Lagos on Friday by its
National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said it gave
President Jonathan the benefit of the doubt by asking him to clarify
what happened, just as the Moroccan King has done.
APC noted that, instead, a loquacious spokesman for the President
decided to abuse us instead of addressing the issues. That tells us
that, indeed, these people have something to hide over the phoney
phone conversation,''
--Leadership
No comments:
Post a Comment