President Goodluck Jonathan has admitted that he never had a telephone conversation with King Mohammed VI of Morocco.
False claims that there was a discussion between the two leaders has led to Morocco recalling its Ambassador from Nigeria.
A statement released by the President’s media aide, Reuben Abati said that Jonathan was “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.”
“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 statement reads.
“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,” it adds.
President Jonathan also stated that he had ordered a full investigation into the scandal and that the foreign affairs official who made the claim would be appropriately sanctioned.
“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,” the statement continued.
Morocco had issued an initial statement saying that King Mohammed had turned down an offer to speak with Jonathan due to the proximity of Nigeria’s general elections.
Nigerian officials however repeatedly insisted that Jonathan had spoken with the Moroccan monarch when the latter was in Paris on a visit.
