Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the just concluded General Election, has criticized US Secretary of State Antony J Blinken’s call to President-elect Bola Tinubu, saying he should let the court decide the legitimate president.
Obi mentioned this in a series of tweets on his verified Twitter profile in response to Tinubu and Blinken’s conversation on Friday.
“I am astounded that Secretary Antony Blinken called Tinubu, contradicting the US’s publicly stated position on Nigeria’s presidential election in 2023.”
“This is inconceivable given that America, as the bastion of democracy, is well informed about the sham election on February 25.” Giving credibility to Nigeria’s widely known stolen election can be demoralising to those who have hedged their bet on democracy and the integrity of the ballot box,” Atiku remarked on Twitter on Wednesday.
“There is still a lack of clarity on the basis of US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken’s call to APC’s presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on May 16, 2023,” Obi added.
“It is thus critical that a beacon of democracy like the United States does not respond to political developments in Nigeria in a manner that suggests taking sides.”
“The final determination of the true winner of the election can only be made by the relevant courts of law.”
He also tasked the US to await for the complete outcome of the ongoing court proceedings before tacitly conferring legitimacy to any contending party.
“The rule of law is the most fundamental tenet and core value of democracy.”
“Nigeria’s democracy is based on these principles that the American people cherish.” The US-Nigeria relationship should be driven by democratic fundamental ideals, without the risk of intervening in Nigeria’s domestic affairs.
“Above all, Nigerians expect US responses to our affairs to be based on mutual respect, shared ideals, aspirations, and interests that should transcend individual considerations,” Obi wrote.
Obi said that the “willful manipulation and falsification of Nigerians’ will as freely expressed during the February 25 elections cannot be overlooked by Nigeria’s true friends and partners.”
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