Breaking! President Admits Nigeria Lied Over Morocco Phone Row; Orders Probe

Culled From Premium Times;

President Goodluck Jonathan admitted Friday that
he did not speak on telephone with the King of Morocco, Mohammed VI, as
claimed last week by the Nigerian foreign affairs ministry, an
apparently false claim that sparked a diplomatic spat between the two
countries with Morocco recalling its ambassador.

The president has ordered a full investigation
into the scandal and has promised to sanction the foreign affairs
official who made that claim, a statement from his office said.

Mr. 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,” the statement said.

Diplomatic relations between Nigeria and Morocco
worsened Tuesday after the North African country recalled its
ambassador from Abuja, following the telephone call row.

The controversy began after Morocco revealed last week that its leader rejected a request from Mr. Jonathan for a conversation.

The Moroccan Foreign Ministry said the request
was a devious move by Mr. Jonathan to curry electoral favour than a
genuine diplomatic move.

“The request by Nigerian authorities for a phone
conversation between HM King Mohammed VI and Nigerian President was
refused by the Monarch who deemed it inappropriate on grounds of the
upcoming elections in Nigeria,” the statement read.

However, on Monday, the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement refuting the claim of the Moroccans.

The Nigerian foreign ministry claimed that King
Mohammed IV of Morocco spoke to President Jonathan from France where he
had gone for a visit.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also denied that
the phone call was intended to confer electoral gains on Mr. Jonathan
who faces a crucial electoral challenge from an invigorated opposition
in two weeks.

“Since the King was in France and not in
Morocco, both leaders spoke extensively over the telephone on matters of
mutual interest and concern that have nothing to do with the conduct of
re-scheduled elections in Nigeria.

“It is therefore preposterous to suggest that Mr
President’s telephone call to the Moroccan monarch was intended to
confer any electoral advantage on the President,” the statement read.

The North African nation responded furiously
Tuesday, denying the claim by the Nigerian authorities, and recalling
its ambassador.

The office of Mohammed VI denied the king ever
spoke to the Nigerian president. It issued a statement describing
Nigeria’s claim that a discussion took place between King Mohammed and
President Jonathan as “unethical practices”.

The statement said it wished to state in the
“clearest and strongest terms” that “there has never been a phone
conversation” between the two leaders.

“The King’s Office categorically denies the
false allegations made by Nigerian authorities about an alleged phone
conversation between the Sovereign and Nigerian President,” the
statement said.

A statement signed by Reuben Abati, the
spokesperson for Mr. Jonathan, said the furore generated over the matter
was due “entirely to misinformation as President Jonathan has neither
spoken with King Mohammed nor told anybody that he had a telephone
conversation with the Moroccan Monarch”.

“It is true that President Jonathan 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.

The statement said President Jonathan has
ordered the Minister of Foreign Affairs, 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,” the statement said.

“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.

President Jonathan also criticised the
opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, which has since called for an
investigation into the matter.

“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,”
the statement said.

Nigeria and Morocco have a history of frosty
diplomatic relation due to the former’s support and recognition of the
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic declared by the separatist group, the
Polisario Front.

The Polisario Front, which is backed by
Morocco’s neighbour, Algeria, seeks an independence for the Western
Sahara region of Morocco, a move the Monarch has violently resiste