Spokesperson for the United States Consulate in Lagos Russell Brooks has described former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan’s account of the US government’s role ahead of 2015 elections as mischaracterisation.
Mr Brooks spoke during a live chat on Facebook in Lagos on Tuesday.
In his book My Transition Hours, Mr Jonathan had accused former US president Barack Obama of displaying an unusual level of bias, releasing a video appeal to Nigerians in which he subtly asked them to vote a particular candidate.
“In that video, Obama urged Nigerians to open the ‘next chapter’ by their votes. Those who understood subliminal language deciphered that he was prodding the electorate to vote for the opposition to form a new government,” Jonathan wrote.
But Brooks said the claim in the book was a mischaracterisation about what Obama or his administration did in Nigeria.
“The mischaracterisation here refers to not comprehending why we felt it was important for Nigeria to have a peaceful, free and fair election in 2015.
“And thereby people may not understand why we placed so much importance of having a peaceful, free and fair and transparent election in 2019.
“In the past, Nigeria’s elections had been beset by violence; there have been questions about the fairness of those elections. And we certainly believe that Nigeria can do better. In 2015, Nigeria did do better.
“There may have been some difficulties as they often times occur in elections whether here in Nigeria or in the United States. But Nigeria did do better and we believe Nigeria will continue to make progress,” Brooks said.
Ahead of the 2019 elections, Brooks said the U.S. government does not “favour candidates,” adding that they are more focused on a free and transparent process.
