NATION

Biden shuns Atiku, Obi as US delegation readies for Tinubu’s inauguration

United States President Joe Biden has revealed a delegation to the forthcoming inauguration of Nigeria’s president-elect Bola Tinubu on May 29.

Biden’s action comes despite the protestations from two opposition candidates –Abubakar Atiku and Peter Obi – who partook in Nigeria’s recent presidential election.

Atiku had described a telephone conversation held between U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Tinubu as “inconceivable”. He also said it meant that the US was giving “legitimacy to the widely acknowledged fraudulent election” and “demoralising to citizens”.

On his part, Obi was short of saying the US telephone conversation was meddlesome. He believes the US “should not respond to political developments in Nigeria in a manner that faintly suggests taking sides.”

In spite of this, Honorable Marcia L. Fudge, the Secretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, would lead the nine-man delegation. The US party equally has Mr. David Greene, Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., U.S. Embassy Abuja

The Honorable Sydney Kamlager-Dove, United States Representative (D), California; Honorable Marisa Lago, Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, U.S. Department of Commerce; and General Michael E. Langley, Commander of U.S. Africa Command.

Equally in the visiting group is Honorable Enoh T. Ebong, Director, U.S. Trade and Development Agency; Honorable Mary Catherine Phee, Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of African Affairs, U.S. Department of State; Honorable Judd Devermont, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for African Affairs, National Security Council; and, Honorable Monde Muyangwa, the Assistant Administrator for the Bureau for Africa, U.S. Agency for International Development.

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button