BEVERLY HILLS, March 13, (THEWILL) – President Goodluck Jonathan Friday said he has not had a telephone conversation with King Mohammed VI of Morocco and has not told anyone that he has spoken to the monarch, who recalled the North Africa nation’s ambassador to Nigeria following the diplomatic row that ensued over counter claims by the foreign ministries of the both countries on the matter.
President Jonathan in a statement by his official spokesman, Reuben Abati, said he “… Is shocked, surprised and highly embarrassed by the controversy that erupted over whether or not he had a telephone conversation with King Mohammed VI of Morocco.”
The foreign ministries of Morocco and Nigeria have been at loggerheads over the issue with Morocco recalling its ambassador to Nigeria on Sunday.
“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,” the statement said.
It added that “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 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.”
The Moroccan foreign ministry had in a statement said that the king rejected President Jonathan’s request for a telephone conversation because the president was trying to use the monarch to boost his re-election campaign. It said the request was an “Unethical practice” and frowned at the timing.
“Contrary to the allegations made by Nigerian authorities to the ambassador of HM the King in Abuja and local media, the Kingdom of Morocco confirms, in the clearest and strongest terms, that there has never been a phone conversation between HM King Mohammed VI and the President of this country.
“HM the King has actually declined the request of the Nigerian government because it is part of the internal electioneering and this country’s fundamentally hostile positions with regard to the territorial integrity of the Kingdom.
“The Kingdom of Morocco expresses its astonishment and denunciation to these unethical practices that are contrary to the spirit of responsibility that must prevail in relations between States,” the Moroccan foreign ministry said in its statement last Sunday.
However, in a counter statement on Sunday, the Nigerian foreign ministry said both leaders “spoke extensively over the phone on matters of mutual interest and concern” and denied that Jonathan was using the King to win over Muslim voters in Nigeria.
President Jonathan, a Christian from Southern Nigeria and his main challenger, General Muhammadu Buhari, a Muslim from Northern Nigeria are running neck-to-neck with the presidential election just about two weeks away.
