When did President Jonathan spoke with King Mohammed VI of Morocco?

President Goodluck Jonathan

Reports had it recently that the president of the federal republic of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan was in an extensive telephone conversation with King Mohammed VI of Morocco over matters of mutual interest and concern. However, in two separate statements issued on Wednesday on the Moroccan government website, the North African kingdom have accused the administration of Goodluck Jonathan of using the king for electioneering and have further denied any telephone conversation between the king and president Jonathan. 

Furthermore, the Moroccan authorities have gone ahead to recall its ambassador to Nigeria over what it described as the “incredible twist” that Nigeria introduced into the dispute, however, the ministry of foreign affairs in Abuja have denied the claims of the Moroccan authorities, saying that the two leaders had spoken extensively. The ministry further added that it would be preposterous to suggest that the President’s telephone call to the Moroccan monarch was intended to confer any electoral advantage.

As for official comments on the withdrawal of the envoy or the disputed telephone conversation between the monarch and the President, the Director of Public Affairs Communication Division, MFA, Ahmedu Ogbole-Ode could not respond as there was no directive from higher authorities to do so. The point is we do not know the kind of political game being played. Who is telling us the truth or not; the Moroccan government or the Nigerian government?

I just wonder how we often get ourselves entangled in these international affairs. The other time Gambia recalled its ambassador over the Ebola crisis, neighboring countries were closing borders, Chadian military accusing Nigerian soldiers of cowardice, South Africa seizing air planes and now a withdrawal of envoy over a telephone conversation issue. I just hope we are getting it right with our foreign policies or international relations?