THE governments of the United States and Nigeria share a commitment to each other as strategic partners whose bond remain strong for the mutual benefit of both countries.
So said the outgoing American assistant secretary of state to Africa, Ambassador Johnnie Carson, during A reception organized in his honor by the ECOWAS Ambassadors Group at the Nigerian embassy in Washington DC., where he singled out Nigeria and South Africa’s as America’s two most important friends in Africa.
Mr. Carson’s remarks come amid the recent furor generated over what is being referred to as Pardongate in sections of the media, regarding the recent extension of the prerogative of mercy to erstwhile felon and former governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, by the President Goodluck Jonathan administration.
The former Bayelsa governor had been prosecuted, found guilty and jailed on corruption charges running into billions of naira by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in July 2007.
However, on March 12, 2013, President Jonathan announced a pardon of the disgraced governor alongside other Nigerians that included the former military Chief of General Staff, Lieutenant-General Oladipo Diya, who was jailed alongside other military and civilian men for allegedly plotting a coup against the late dictator, General Abacha.
The pronouncements made this weekend by the Ambassador Johnnie Carson is the clearest indication yet that the American government is not reacting in the manner has been reported by many media organizations in the days that followed the much criticized pardoning of Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.
“We value enormously our relationship with Nigeria,” Mr. Carson said in those remarks, adding that it was impossible to ignore Nigeria’s role as sub-Saharan Africa’s regional power, alongside South Africa.
Ambassador Carson also pointed out that Nigeria is an important supplier of the oil needs of his country, putting Nigeria’s contribution to American oil imports at 9 percent. He also acknowledged Nigeria’s effort in peace-keeping roles in Africa and beyond, admitting that Nigeria’s contributes considerably towards peace and stability in the region.
“Nigeria. Nigeria is Africa most populous country, it is a country which supplies roughly 9 per cent of America’s oil, it supplies most of our crude, it is a source of U. S investment in energy field. We also look at Nigeria as a critical country economically, politically and security wise in West Africa,” he said.
“Its (Nigeria) economy drives the economy of West Africa. In the security forces, its military help to establish peace and stability. Its businessmen aid in dynamism not only to the Nigeria economy but to the economy of West Africa. Its financial institutions are important across West Africa.”
According to Mr. Carson, it was on the basis of this importance that the last American secretary of state, Mrs. Hilary Clinton, set up a strategic partnership between the United States and Nigeria four years ago. The dialogue continues, he says, because it is important that the countries remain important allies.
The diplomat refused to speak on the performance of the President Jonathan so far, saying, “It is not for me to say with specifics about the current administration, we enjoy strong and solid relationship with the government of Nigeria and the people of Nigeria and we are very proud of that relationship.”
Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States, who hosted the occasion at the Nigerian embassy, also talked about the robust relationship between the United States and ECOWAS Countries of which Nigeria is a member. The Nigerian ambassador thanked the United States government its positive interests and support for good initiatives in the region.