Blinken calls Tinubu after US bans 'rogue' Nigerian politicians
Nigeria President Bola Tinubu.
Barely 48 hours after the US announced visa restrictions on "rogue" Nigerian politicians who tampered with the recent presidential election, the country has reached out to President-elect Bola Tinubu to express its commitment to the incoming administration.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Tinubu on Tuesday morning to emphasise his continued commitment to strengthening US-Nigeria relations.
Mr Matthew Miller, the Spokesperson to the Secretary of State, said in a statement yesterday that Blinken placed a telephone call to 71-year-old Tinubu.
"The Secretary noted that the US-Nigeria partnership is built on shared interests and strong people-to-people ties...those links should continue to strengthen under President-elect Tinubu’s tenure," he said.
The US had on May 15 placed visa restrictions on Nigerians who tried to undermine the democratic process in Nigeria’s 2023 General Election that brought Tinubu to power.
Blinken had said on Monday that the administration of President Joe Biden was committed to advancing democracy in Nigeria and around the world.
“Today, I am announcing that we have taken steps to impose visa restrictions on specific individuals in Nigeria for undermining the democratic process during the 2023 elections cycle,” Blinken said.
