President Goodluck Jonathan Monday met with his United
States counterpart, Barack Obama, for bilateral talks and
assured him that his administration would ensure the
conduct of credible elections in 2015.
Responding to Obama’s remarks that Nigeria is a major
stakeholder in Africa and needed to be encouraged to hold
free and fair elections in 2015, Jonathan said his
administration would improve on its efforts in the 2011
general election by ensuring that the forthcoming ones are
better organised.
He also applauded US for creating a paradigm shift away
from crises ridden elections right from its independence
Jonathan noted that relationship between the two
countries has grown in various sectors of the economy,
making Nigeria US’ biggest trading partner in Africa.
The Nigerian president explained that after the criticisms
that trailed the 2007 presidential election that brought him
and his principal then, the late President Umaru Musa
Yar’Adua to power, he had resolved to deliver a
democratically elected government even if he was not
favoured at the polls.
“We have had controversial elections between 1960 and
2011, including the one that ushered me in as vice-
president. My administration promised to improve the
democratic process and minimise corruption, nepotism. We
delivered what has so far been adjudged as the most
credible elections in Nigeria since our democratic
experiment. We will continue to build strong institutions that
will help consolidate the gains we have made,” Jonathan
added.
He said he looked forward to Obama’s initiative of powering
Africa, adding that already some American stakeholders in
the power sector were involved in the privatisation of the
sector in Nigeria.
Jonathan also spoke about terrorism, saying it has become
a global issue and Nigeria was grappling with its own share
of it, and also promising to cooperate with the US in the
fight against global terror.
“This relationship must continue if we must face global
issues together as we have done in the past,” Jonathan
said, adding that he was satisfied with the co-operation
existing between the two countries.
“We will continue to co-operate with the US in solving our
problems,” he said.
According to him, the US has been Nigeria’s partner since
independence and expressed gladness that the two
countries have benefited from each other’s relationship with
Nigeria as the largest US trading partner in Africa and its
fifth largest oil exporter to the country.
“The two countries are very strong from two perspectives.
The US is the greatest super-power in the world while
Nigeria is also a strong country in terms of size and
economy growth in the continent,” he said.
In his opening remarks, Obama said the US was supportive
of Nigeria in its fight against terrorism, adding that Boko
Haram was one of the most hideous terrorist organisations
facing mankind and should be battled until it ceases to
exist.
“Boko Haram is a most vicious terrorist organisation, a
challenge to the civilised world and the US wants to be
involved in the war to eliminate it,” Obama said.
He further extended his heartfelt sympathy to the people
of Kenya, as did the Nigerian president, stressing that the
US would do everything to assist Kenyatta and his people.
On energy, Obama said Nigeria was also setting a pace that
needed to be admired in Africa and other countries.
According to him, his two visits to some African countries
were aimed at knowing what areas the US could be most
relevant in the continent’s economic needs and
development.
The US president said he was happy to know that Nigeria
was on course and in tandem with his Power Africa
Initiative.
Obama along with some members of his cabinet, which
included Secretary of State John Kerry, later had lunch
with Jonathan before the Nigerian president left for the
New York Stock Exchange to ring the closing bell.
This is dummy text. It is not meant to be read. Accordingly, it is difficult to figure out when to end it. But then, this is dummy text. It is not meant to be read. Period.
ConversionConversion EmoticonEmoticon