By John Ikani
President Bola Tinubu has been extended an invitation for a meeting with his American counterpart, Joe Biden, at the sidelines of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 78), billed to take place in New York from September 12-30, 2023.
As per a statement released on Saturday by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, the invitation was conveyed by U.S. Presidential Envoy & Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Ambassador Molly Phee, following her meeting with the Nigerian president.
Ambassador Phee was quoted saying, “President Joe Biden is asking to meet with you on the sidelines of UNGA, and you are the only African leader he has requested to meet. It is a mark of his high regard for your leadership.”
Tinubu promptly accepted the invitation to meet President Biden, underscoring that the work of refining democracy is a continuous endeavour, evident in both established democracies like the U.S. and emerging democracies across the globe.
During the meeting, Tinubu also advised the U.S. Special Envoy to ensure that U.S. policy fosters collaborative relationships with independent African democracies, especially in the face of challenges posed by anti-democratic forces within and outside the continent.
He stressed that American-supported development finance and multilateral institutions, originally designed for post-World War II Europe, should undergo substantial reforms to effectively address the developmental needs of newer democracies in Africa. Such democracies often operate in environments where authoritarian influences are prevalent, preventing legitimate African aspirations from being exploited by self-serving figures resorting to unconstitutional power grabs.
“The private sector will certainly take the lead within the environment we create for them. However, the U.S. government must exhibit innovative thinking and systematically incentivize industrial investment in Nigeria,” Tinubu emphasized. He assured that under his leadership, Nigeria is committed to addressing specific regulatory, tax, and environmental concerns, aiming to bring prosperity to all Nigerian families.
Undeterred by the crisis in Niger Republic, the Nigerian leader reaffirmed his commitment to successfully concluding his economic reform program for the betterment of his citizens. He reiterated his independence in decision-making, focusing on advancing the interests of Nigeria within the framework of ECOWAS’ approach to regional challenges.
“We are actively working towards a peaceful resolution in Niger through diplomatic means. While ECOWAS is prepared for all options, I am deliberately holding back to explore alternative solutions. While war is not conducive for my economic reforms or the region, safeguarding democracy remains essential. ECOWAS is united in not allowing insincere delays,” affirmed the ECOWAS Chairman.
