US Welcomes Yar’Adua
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Tony Ekata, Johannesburg
The
United States government has welcomed the return of President
Umaru Yar’Adua to Nigeria with a call on the political
leadership to put the health of the president and the well-being
of the nation above short-term political ambitions or gains.
The US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs,
Ambassador Johnnie Carson, made the call in Washington via a
video conference with journalists in New York and South Africa.
Ambassador Carson said the United States considered Nigeria one
of the two most important countries in Africa and was genuinely
concerned about its political stability.
Important to global affairs
He described Nigeria as extra-ordinarily important to its
friends and partners and urged all its leaders to make democracy
and continued adherence to constitutional rule their highest
priority.
VON Correspondent reports that Ambassador Carson recalled
Nigeria’s role on the global stage, especially in Africa and
expressed the hope that President Yar’Adua’s return would
contribute to resolving what he called the existing political
uncertainty.
’’We all need a strong and stable democratic Nigeria. We need
it for Nigeria, we need it for West Africa, we need it for
Africa, we need it for the global community. All of those in
positions of responsibility in Nigeria should put the health of
the president and the best interest of the country and the
people of Nigeria above short-term political ambitions or
gains.” Carson said
Destiny in owns’
hands
Ambassador Carson
explained that he embarked on a wide range of consultations with
top Nigerians before and after his recent trip to the country
during which he visited Acting President Goodluck Jonathan and
former Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida. He said that
the visit to General Babangida was partly to console him on the
loss of his wife, Maryam, who died in an American hospital.
The top US diplomat stressed that the solution to Nigeria’s
political problems rests with Nigerians.
In his words, ’’The
United States and the international community can encourage as
much as we should , the responsible and thoughtful behaviour of
leaders and we have an obligation to do so given the
significance and importance of Nigeria, which I outlined before.
But plan A, B, C, and D are all in Abuja. All of those plans
rest with the responsible behaviour of Nigeria’s senior
leadership. We hope they will take plan A, which is the one that
will lead to both democratic and economic success”
Restore Niger’s
democracy
He also commented on the situation in Niger and urged the
military leadership there to demonstrate the sincerity by
restoring the country to constitutional rule within six months.
Ambassador Carson expressed confidence in South Africa’s ability
to host a successful soccer world cup but could not confirm
whether US president Barack Obama would attend the opening
ceremony of the event.
Yinka
