Diplomatic row: Jonathan shocked, embarrassed, says he did’t speak with King of Morocco

The controversy surrounding the alleged telephone conversation between President Goodluck Jonathan and the King of Morocco took another dimension as President Goodluck Jonathan Friday evening said he never spoke on phone with the Moroccoan King and has ordered the Minister of Foreign Affairs to carry out a full scale investigation into the matter and punish those responsible for the national embarrassment.

Morocco fires back: Nigeria lied, our king didn’t talk to Jonathan

Addressing a press conference Friday evening, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati said the President was ‘shocked, surprised and embarrassed” over the controversy generated by his alleged telephone conversation with the Moroccoan King.

The controversy over whether or not the Nigerian President spoke with the Moroccoan King culminated in the recall of the Moroccoan Ambassador to Nigeria for consultation by his home government.

There were reports that the King of Morocco declined a request for a telephone conversation with president Jonathan when the later sought to speak with him, saying that it was inappropriate since president Jonathan was going into an election. They alleged that the Federal Government was trying to use King of Morocco to win Muslim votes.

But an official in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs insisted that president Jonathan spoke with the King on Phone, prompting the Moroccoan government to angrily deny such a phone discussion ever took place and recalled its ambassador to Nigeria for consultation.

But addressing State House correspondents yesterday, Dr 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 nor told anybody that he had a telephone conversation with the Moroccan Monarch”.

The statement reads: “President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is shocked, surprised and highly embarrassed by the controversy that has erupted over whether or not he had a telephone conversation with His Majesty, King Mohammed VI of Morocco.

“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.

“It is true that President Jonathan has 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).

“In continuation of his efforts in support of the candidacy of the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi 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 Presidency.

“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.

“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.

“While awaiting the outcome of the investigations, President Jonathan urges Nigerians to disregard the vituperation of opposition elements, who have, true to type, latched on to the regrettable faux pas as a fresh opportunity to denigrate the government of their country and advance their irresponsible quest for victory at any price in the coming elections”.

 

Diplomatic row: Jonathan shocked, embarrassed, says he did’t speak with King of Morocco