By Ajani Okanlawon
President Goodluck Jonathan Friday ordered full investigation into his alleged phone conversation with King Mohammed VI of Morocco.
While expressing shock, surprise and embarrassment over the diplomatic row that ensued after Rabat said its monarch refused to speak to Jonathan because he did not want to be part of Nigeria’s internal electioneering, the Presidency accused the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of “unacceptable act of official misinformation”.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali, has therefore been directed to urgently undertake full investigation.
Aso Rock wants prompt and commensurate disciplinary action taken against person or persons found culpable.
The Ministry had claimed earlier in the week that Jonathan spoke with King Mohammed VI, but Morocco denied that the phone call ever took place, and accused the Nigerian government of trying to use the king to gain favour with Muslim voters.
“The President did in fact speak to the Moroccan monarch… both leaders spoke extensively over the phone on matters of mutual interest and concern,” a statement from Nigeria’s foreign affairs ministry said.
Morocco responded by recalling its ambassador to Nigeria, expressing its “astonishment and denunciation to these unethical practices that are contrary to the spirit of responsibility that must prevail in relations between state.”
The All Progressives Congress (APC), Nigeria’s main opposition party, also joined the fray, asking Jonathan to explain the cause of the diplomatic row.
Speaking on Friday thorough a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, said controversy is due entirely to misinformation as he has neither spoken with King Mohammed or told anybody that he had a telephone conversation with the Moroccan monarch.
Jonathan, the statement said “has 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).
“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 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 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.”
Wali’s investigation is to identify all those “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.
