UNITED STATES (U.S.) President Barack Obama has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to take his election last month as a good opportunity to pursue the development of the country. He said the U.S. government would invigorate its assistance to the country through the U.S.-Nigeria Bi-national Commission.

Obama, who also restated that Nigeria is one of America’s strategic partners, spoke late Wednesday in Washington DC at a brief meeting between both leaders, which has been described as mostly a symbolic gesture from the American government towards Nigeria and its newly-elected president.

Although reporters were not allowed to the meeting which lasted about 30 minutes, Nigeria’s Ambassador to the US, Prof. Adebowale Adefuye who was present, disclosed that the two presidents discussed about the recent Nigerian elections, Nigeria‘s leadership in Africa, peacekeeping and the U.S.-Nigeria Bi-national Commission, among other issues.

According to Adefuye, after congratulating Jonathan over the election, Obama advised him to take his election as an opportunity to develop Nigeria’s potential and to diversify the country’s economic base.

Obama also expressed his appreciation on Nigeria’s contribution to international peacekeeping missions and leadership role in West Africa, against the background of Nigeria’s recent role as ECOWAS chairman in the case of  Cote d’Ivoire’s recent political crisis.

Craving that the country continue along such paths, the U.S. President assured his Nigerian counterpart that he looked forward to more co-operation between the U.S. and Nigeria in the nearest future, adding that both the U.S. and Nigeria share common objectives.

Earlier, President Jonathan had expressed his appreciation for his invitation to the White House and also commended the American government’s support for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the build-up to the recent general elections.

Recounting President Jonathan’s comments, Ambassador Adefuye stated that he also praised the U.S. government for its statement after the elections recognising the largely positive outcome of the polls. President Jonathan was said to have promised that Nigeria would further the cause of democracy in Africa and continue to play a leading role in its contribution to the UN peacekeeping missions.

Jonathan, while appreciating America for the U.S.-Nigeria Bi-national Commission, reportedly said: “I want to see the implementation of the Bi-national Commission invigorated.”

Top Nigerian officials who joined President Jonathan at the White House Oval office meeting included the Permanent Secretary of the Foreign Affairs, Dr. Martin Uhomoibhi; the National Security Adviser General, Andrew Azazi; Director-General of the Nigeria Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Oladeji; Ambassador Hassan Tukur, the Principal Secretary to the President and Adefuye, Nigeria’s Ambassador to the U.S.

On the American side with President Obama were the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, Ambassador Johnnie Carson, the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria Terrence McCulley and Bob Levvit of the National Security Council, among others.

Posted by admin on Jun 10 2011. Filed under Africa & World Politics, Goodluck Jonathan (2010-present), Latest Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry