President Goodluck Jonathan has cried out to the President of the United States of America, Barack Obama yesterday when he urged him to “help fix Nigeria.”
Jonathan held a bilateral meeting with the U.S president at the Lyndon B. Johnson suite in the Waldorf-Astoria yesterday.
President Obama had while welcoming President Jonathan to their meeting at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York, described Nigeria as a critical partner of the United States in Africa.
Obama noted that his last summer trip to Africa made him to realize common interests in helping Nigeria improve its rural electrification; empowering young people through the Young African Leaders programme; improving internal security in a way consistent with human rights as well as “making sure” Nigeria’s elections in 2015 continue to improve the country’s democratic process.
“For you to fix the world, you must fix Africa. For you to fix Africa, you must fix Nigeria,” Jonathan told Obama.
In a later statement by Jonathan’s media aide, Reuben Abati, President Jonathan also applauded President Obama’s Power Africa and Youth Leadership Initiatives, saying that both initiatives would complement aspects of his administration’s agenda for national transformation.
“President Obama had while welcoming President Jonathan to their meeting at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York, described Nigeria as a critical partner of the United States in Africa.
The statement on the meeting read in parts: “President Goodluck Jonathan Monday in New York called for a stronger global consensus and determination to end the scourge of terrorism as quickly as possible.
“Speaking at talks with President Barrack Obama of the United States ahead of the opening of the 68th session of the United Nations tomorrow, President Jonathan said that unless the international community unites and deploys its enormous resources to eradicate terrorism, it will continue to be embarrassed by terrorist outrages such as the heinous attack on defenceless shoppers in Nairobi at the weekend which both leaders strongly condemned.
“President Jonathan expressed his appreciation of the support and assistance Nigeria has been receiving from the United States for its fight against domestic terrorism. He added, however, that Nigeria will welcome even more bilateral collaboration in this regard.
“The President said his administration also looked forward to the further strengthening of Nigeria’s relations with the United States in the areas of trade and economic development.
“He reassured President Jonathan of his commitment to the continuous strengthening of Nigeria’s electoral processes and the country’s democratic institutions.
“President Jonathan was accompanied to the talks by the Minister of State (Foreign Affairs) Prof. Viola Onwuliri, Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States, Prof. Adebowale Adefuye, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Allison Madueke, and the Governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo”, it was stated.
President Jonathan also applauded President Obama’s Power Africa and Youth Leadership Initiatives, saying that both initiatives would complement aspects of his administration’s agenda for national transformation.
Obama assured President Jonathan that the United States will continue to cooperate with Nigeria in all possible areas, including the war against domestic and global terrorism.
On the attack at a Nairobi mall at the weekend, Obama noted that the attack “underscores” the level to which all countries are connected and their need to work together. And Jonathan expressed thus: “I feel the pain of President Kenyatta … terror anywhere is terror on all of us”.
“The United States will continue to cooperate with Nigeria in all possible areas, including the war against domestic and global terrorism.
“The United States will continue to work with the entire continent of Africa and around the world to make sure that we are dismantling these networks of destruction.”
“We stand with them against this terrible outrage that’s occurred, we will provide them with whatever law enforcement help that is necessary,” Obama said.
Obama was accompanied to the meeting by Secretary of State John Kerry, National Security Adviser Susan Rice, United Nations Ambassador Samantha Power and deputy chief of staff, Rob Nabors.