Peter Obi has criticized the recent message to Bola Tinubu from Antony J. Blinken, the US Secretary of State.
The 2023 Labour Party (LP) Presidential candidate believes that the court should be allowed to determine the rightful president of Nigeria.
He expressed his views through a series of tweets from his verified Twitter account in response to the conversation between Tinubu and Blinken on Friday.
Earlier, Expressive Info reported that Blinken assured Tinubu of stronger ties between the US and Nigeria during their 20-minute phone call on Tuesday, 16th May.
However, this call sparked reactions from opposition groups, with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar describing the conversation between Blinken and Tinubu as “demoralizing.”
Atiku tweeted his views, saying: “I find it hard to believe that Secretary Antony Blinken called Tinubu, contradicting the publicly stated position of the US regarding Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election. This is unimaginable, considering that America, as the stronghold of democracy, is well aware of the fraudulent election that took place on February 25. Granting legitimacy to the widely recognized fraudulent election in Nigeria can be demoralizing to citizens who have placed their trust in democracy and the integrity of the ballot.”
In response, he urged the US to wait for the judicial processes to reach a final resolution before implicitly conferring legitimacy on any party involved.
Obi wrote: “There is still a lack of clarity on the basis of the US Secretary of State, Antony J. Blinken’s call to APC’s presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu on May 16, 2023.
“It is thus of overarching importance that a beacon of democracy like the United States should not respond to political developments in Nigeria in a manner that faintly suggests taking sides.
“The final determination of the true winner of the election can only be made by the relevant courts of law.
“The most fundamental tenet and core value of democracy is the rule of law.
“Nigeria’s democracy is founded on these principles which the American people hold dear. Without the risk of interfering in Nigeria’s domestic affairs, the U.S.-Nigeria relationship should be guided by the core values of democracy.
“Above all, Nigerians expect that the US responses to our affairs should be based on mutual respect, shared ideals, aspirations and interests which ought to transcend the considerations of any individual.”
He also said that the “willful manipulation and falsification of the will of Nigerians as freely expressed during the February 25 elections cannot be overlooked by the true friends and partners of Nigeria.” He added: “More so, the issues in judicial contention imply far-reaching violations of both the Nigerian Electoral Law and the Nigerian Constitution.”
