Nigeria’s President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu who said his first priority as president would be to unify the country has also pledged closer ties with the United States.
The President-elect made the remarks during a telephone conversation Tuesday night with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that has been described as frank and friendly.
Asiwaju Tinubu told the diplomat that among his immediate priorities would be to deliver institutional reforms and development programs to deepen our democratic institutions and bring help to poor and vulnerable Nigerians.
He also expressed his determination to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy and faithfully serve the people as their president.
During the talks that lasted about 20 minutes, President-elect Tinubu spoke about his eventful sojourn in America in the 70s, where he graduated with honours as an accountant in 1979.
He also recalled how he was granted asylum by the US when, due to his determined struggle for democracy in Nigeria, he was forced into exile by the late General Sani Abacha’s military junta.
While affirming his democratic bonafides , President-elect Tinubu expressed his absolute belief that the result of the elections, which he clearly won, reflected the will of the Nigerian people.
He said he would work to unite the country and ensure that Nigerians are happy and enjoy the benefits of democracy and progressive good governance.
Responding to Secretary Blinken, the President-elect said without national unity, security, economic development and good governance, Nigeria would not become a better place to live in or play her proper role in the comity of African nations.
He urged the US to factor in Nigeria’s important place in Africa and provide needed assistance in the areas of security and economic investment in order for the nation to lead the way and be a shining example to the rest of the continent.
Secretary Blinken said that Nigeria should expect a good and mutually-beneficial relationship with the US.
He promised to play his part in bringing a sustained and cordial relationship between the two nations to fruition, saying a democratic and peaceful Nigeria is important to the United States as it is to Africa.
Both President-elect Tinubu and Secretary Blinken ended their discussion with pleasant greetings and a promise to keep the channels of dialogue and communication open, while maintaining a strong relationship between the two nations.
