Jonathan Denies Conversation With King, Orders Probe

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday publicly spoke on the diplomatic row that has developed between the Nigerian Government and the King of Morocco, King Mohammed VI over a purported telephone conversation, saying that he never spoke with the king.

The president, while denying that any conversation took place, also ordered the minister of foreign affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali, to conduct a full scale investigation to unravel the source of the media report alleging that a telephone conversation occurred with Monarch.

However, the All Progressives Congress (APC), while reacting to the incident asked President Goodluck Jonathan to apologize to Nigerians for the embarrassment that he has caused Nigerian over the phantom phone conversation.

The president said he “is shocked, surprised and highly embarrassed by the controversy that has erupted over whether or not” he had a telephone conversation with King Mohammed VI.

According to the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the minister must fish out those responsible for such misinformation in the foreign affairs ministry, which has not only embarrassed the country but also led to diplomatic row with the North African country.

Stressing that the motives for the misinformation must be uncovered, he also ordered that disciplinary action should be taken against them.

Briefing journalists in Aso Rock yesterday, Abati said, “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”.

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 or told anybody that he had a telephone conversation with the Moroccan Monarch”.

He, however, admitted that President Jonathan had 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).

Clarifying on the extent the president has gone so far, Abati said, “In continuation of his efforts in support of the candidacy of the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. 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 President”.

Maintaining that Jonathan did not speak with the Moroccan Monarch, the presidential spokesman said, “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.

“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”.

But the APC which issued a statement in Lagos on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said it gave President Jonathan the benefit of the doubt by asking him to clarify what happened, just as the Moroccan King has done.

APC noted that, instead, a loquacious spokesman for the President decided to abuse us instead of addressing the issues. That tells us that, indeed, these people have something to hide over the phone conversation,’’

The party added that, ‘Whereas Morocco was unequivocal in denying that its King had any phone conversation with President Jonathan, saying ‘Morocco is surprised at the incredible twist given by Nigeria to an alleged phone conversation that never took place between HM King Mohammed VI and

Nigerian President’, the Nigerian presidency has been less forthcoming, instead opting to engage in shadow-chasing.

‘’Because of this unnecessary controversy over a phone discussion, Nigerians have now been branded liars. This is very serious, considering Nigeria’s standing in Africa. We therefore expect that any serious administration would not have hesitated to come clean on what really transpired, instead of dissipating its energy on abuses.”

‘’In the true tradition of the Jonathan Administration to ignore the message and attack the messenger, those who should bury their heads in shame for dragging their nation to the realm of the abyss simply engaged in their usual pastime.

According to APC , the global opprobrium which the Jonathan Administration has brought on Nigeria can only be imagined, with the likes of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe firing darts at Nigeria – which played a front-line role in his country’s independence – and the militaries of less-endowed neighbouring countries adding that the feat belittled Nigeria’s military, despite its globally-acclaimed role in the maintenance of peace and security in the sub-region. (Leadership)