President Goodluck Jonathan admitted Friday that he did not speak on telephone with the King of Morocco, Mohammed VI, as claimed last week by the Nigerian foreign affairs ministry, an apparently false claim that sparked a diplomatic spat between the two countries with Morocco recalling its ambassador.

The president has ordered a full investigation into the scandal and has promised to sanction the foreign affairs official who made that claim, a statement from his office said.

Mr. Jonathan was “shocked, surprised and highly embarrassed by the controversy that has erupted over whether or not he had a telephone conversation with His Majesty, King Mohammed VI of Morocco,” the statement said.

Diplomatic relations between Nigeria and Morocco worsened Tuesday after the North African country recalled its ambassador from Abuja, following the telephone call row.

The controversy began after Morocco revealed last week that its leader rejected a request from Mr. Jonathan for a conversation.

The Moroccan Foreign Ministry said the request was a devious move by Mr. Jonathan to curry electoral favour than a genuine diplomatic move.

“The request by Nigerian authorities for a phone conversation between HM King Mohammed VI and Nigerian President was refused by the Monarch who deemed it inappropriate on grounds of the upcoming elections in Nigeria,” the statement read.
However, on Monday, the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement refuting the claim of the Moroccans.

The Nigerian foreign ministry claimed that King Mohammed IV of Morocco spoke to President Jonathan from France where he had gone for a visit.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also denied that the phone call was intended to confer electoral gains on Mr. Jonathan who faces a crucial electoral challenge from an invigorated opposition in two weeks.

“Since the King was in France and not in Morocco, both leaders spoke extensively over the telephone on matters of mutual interest and concern that have nothing to do with the conduct of re-scheduled elections in Nigeria.
“It is therefore preposterous to suggest that Mr President’s telephone call to the Moroccan monarch was intended to confer any electoral advantage on the President,” the statement read.

The North African nation responded furiously Tuesday, denying the claim by the Nigerian authorities, and recalling its ambassador.

The office of Mohammed VI denied the king ever spoke to the Nigerian president. It issued a statement describing Nigeria’s claim that a discussion took place between King Mohammed and President Jonathan as “unethical practices”.

The statement said it wished to state in the “clearest and strongest terms” that “there has never been a phone conversation” between the two leaders.
“The King’s Office categorically denies the false allegations made by Nigerian authorities about an alleged phone conversation between the Sovereign and Nigerian President,” the statement said.

A statement signed by Reuben Abati, the spokesperson for Mr. Jonathan, said the furore generated over the matter was due “entirely to misinformation as President Jonathan has neither spoken with King Mohammed nor told anybody that he had a telephone conversation with the Moroccan Monarch”.

“It is true that President Jonathan has been speaking with some African leaders to seek their support for Nigeria’s candidate for the position of President of the African Development Bank (AfDB).

“In continuation of his efforts in support of the candidacy of the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina for headship of the AfDB, President Jonathan indicated that he would like to speak with the King of Morocco, the President of Algeria and the President of Egypt.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was consequently directed to make necessary contacts with the embassies of the three countries and arrange for President Jonathan to speak with their leaders.
“Since that directive was given, President Jonathan has spoken with the Prime Minister of Algeria and subsequently sent Vice President Namadi Sambo to Algiers as Special Envoy to follow-up on his discussions with the Algerian Prime Minister on support for Nigeria’s candidate in the coming elections for the AfDB Presidency.

“The President has, however, not yet spoken with King Mohammed VI and President Al-Sisi of Egypt as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must know.

The statement said President Jonathan has ordered the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aminu Wali, to urgently undertake a full investigation of the claim which emanated from the Ministry that the President spoke with King Mohammed VI.

“The investigation is to identify all those who were responsible for the unacceptable act of official misinformation which has resulted in an unnecessary diplomatic row with another country and national embarrassment,” the statement said.

“It is also expected to unveil the motives of the culprits.
“President Jonathan has also ordered that prompt and commensurate disciplinary action be taken against the culpable person or persons.

President Jonathan also criticised the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, which has since called for an investigation into the matter.

“While awaiting the outcome of the investigations, President Jonathan urges Nigerians to disregard the vituperations of opposition elements, who have, true to type, latched on to the regrettable faux pas as a fresh opportunity to unpatriotically denigrate the government of their country and advance their irresponsible quest for victory at any price in the coming elections,” the statement said.

Nigeria and Morocco have a history of frosty diplomatic relation due to the former’s support and recognition of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic declared by the separatist group, the Polisario Front.

The Polisario Front, which is backed by Morocco’s neighbour, Algeria, seeks an independence for the Western Sahara region of Morocco, a move the Monarch has violently resisted.


http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/178441-breaking-jonathan-admits-nigeria-lied-over-morocco-phone-row-orders-probe.html?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter

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Yeye man! Jonathan is such a useless man!



Look at what he has turned himself into because of his desperation to remain in power against the wish of the majority of Nigerians!

Jonathan is a disgrace to Nigeria. The country has being turned into a laughing stock on the African continent.

Chad and Niger are the ones helping to repel attacks by Boko Haram, now this embarrassing situation with Morocco.

Countries like Morocco used to lobby to speak with Nigerian Presidents, now they don't want anything to do with this outgoing president- rejected home and abroad

How long will this humiliation continue?

#March4Buhari We cant wait....

An external ministry official will be the scapegoat

Jonathan has finished himself! NIGERIANS will bury him on the 28th of this Month!

#NeverAgain

Thank God he finally admitted to the truth. There was absolutely nothing to gain from the previous grandstanding of the foreign affairs ministry. No need looking for a scape goat in this matter, the minister of foreign affairs and the permanent secretary in the ministry should be sacked immediately if truly the presidency did not authorise the controversial press release.

Big shame to all the tanoids who disputed the claim of Morocco simply because they felt their tiny god, Goodluck Jonathan can do no wrong. Shame on all those that claim the whole affair was an APC propaganda attack on the presidency. Now that we know the lying party, they should be bold enough to apologies for their lies just like their GEJ just did.

Since his attack dogs has been spreading lies in and out, he didn't knw dem go carry his dirty linen go wash for morocco. Yeye people joined together forming rubbish!

Rogues, perverts, vagabonds and drunkards littering Aso Rock.

Sai Buhari!

The average black man is a poor scholar.
The last time I said this, someone accused me of being derogatory but it's evident!
The President himself said it that many comments are being made in his favour, which are not from him or with his approval in his media chat.
Yet the black lot are quick to believe every damn thing that flies in front of their noses hook, line and sinker.
The newspapers would take advantage of your insatiable appetite for 'evil' news and spread all sorts of juicy propaganda, and you'll be quick to gobble it all up. Have you ever taken time to isolate the 'quotes' of the person from the rest of the news anytime you read any news? That should go a long way in exposing what you've been fighting over all this while.

Someone must be punished for this . GEJ till 2019!!!

The last time Nigeria had it this bad in area of international diplomacy was during the dark days of Abacha's despotic reign.

Talk about running from pillar to post, while exposing the nation to untold ridicule...

PhockPhockMan:
There appears to be no end in sight to the diplomatic spat between Nigeria and Morocco, as Nigerian officials have insisted that a phone conversation did take place between President Goodluck Jonathan and Morocco’s King Mohammed VI last Friday while the monarch was in France.

According to sources in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the conversation focused on the president seeking Morocco’s backing for the election of Nigeria’s representative, Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Adewumi Adesina, as President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) in May 2015.
...
...
... ...
http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/ministry-morocco-mischievous-president-mohammed-vi-discussed-afdb-presidency/203990/

Source: MINISTRY: Morocco Mischievous, President, Mohammed VI Discussed Afdb Presidency. by PhockPhockMan: 1:57pm

Clerverly:
Yeye man! Jonathan is such a useless man!



Look at what he has turned himself into because of his desperation to remain in power against the wish of the majority of Nigerians!

It's obvious you lack respect for your parents.

temitemi1:
Someone must be punished for this . GEJ till 2019!!!

Of course GEJ would be punished for this come March 28

What will it cost these govt officials to be truthful for just once?

The rat race to curry favour from gej leads grown men to telling childish lies to appear as staunch supporters of the president. Now they've embarrassed the whole country in their pathetic attempt to appear very loyal to gej

What useless political capital were they hoping to get from a phone call between gej and the Moroccan king?

SMH for these baby diplomats in charge of mighty Nigeria's image

The president ordered a full
investigation
into the scandal and promised
to sanction the
foreign affairs official who
made the false
claim, a statement by
presidential
spokesperson, Reuben Abati,
said.

So just like election postponement, he wasn't aware of this too?
Who is really in charge?

I suspect there are moles in Jonathan's govt who are subtly working against him. The president must be more careful in the buildup to the elections.

temitemi1:
Someone must be punished for this . GEJ till 2019!!!

Ah Ah Ah this ROBOT has escaped again.

Dat FFK guy should come back here and defend his boss

Lalasticlala GEJ has admitted that he did not speak with the Moroccan President

Jonathan has to go. We are tired of this disgraceful behavior.

D way this shameful outgoing president has be disgracing nigeria both home and internation,d same way GOD wil disgrace him.

Sanction the foreign officials involved ? This must be the joke of the century . GEJ does not have the balls to sanction the officials but Nigerians will surely sanction GEJ comes March 28

GEJ the clueless Man,

Otuoke is expecting you come May 29 2015.

But you may decide to go before the 29th and hand over to your Vice, so that he'll perform the handover ceremony to the Incoming APC Govt God willing.

Why are our Government officials lying about issues that are so trivial as this? What do they really think they will gain? Now they have put Nigeria's foreign ministry in a bad light and our clueless President has no idea what is going on. This is very shameful Nigeria and we deserve better than this!

Naija don suffer, whatever offence Nigeria as a Country committed before God that made him punish us with jonaTAN as president since 2011, Baba God please forgive us, we now appreciate that only you can give succour and that "he once had no shoes" doesn't mean he was your choice for us.

We didn't know you wanted Buhari for us then but now we Know. We won't disappoint you again Holy Father.

Mr. Jonathan was “shocked, surprised and highly embarrassed by the controversy that has erupted over whether or not he had a telephone conversation with His Majesty, King Mohammed VI of Morocco,” the statement said.

jonaTAN and his image makers can lie eh, God.

HE WAS SHOCKED AND EMBARRASSED WHEN HE FOUND OUT ABOUT THE #BRINGBACKJONATAN2015 YET DOYIN OKUPE WAS TWITTING WITH THE HASHTAG FOR OVER TWO MONTHS AND BILLBOARDS FILLED ABUJA WITH SAME.

HE WAS SHOCKED AND EMBARRASSED WHEN HE HEARD ABOUT THE CHIBOK GIRLS KIDNAP AND SINCE SHEKAU DIDN'T DISPLAY THEIR DEAD BODIES AND WAYEC DIDNT PUBLISH THEIR PHOTOS TO CONFIRM THE TRUTH.

HE WAS SHOCKED AND EMBARRASSED SINCE HE DIDNT KNOW THE REGALIA HE WAS DECORATED WITH WAS AN OGBONI DRAPE

HE WAS SHOCKED AND EMBARRASSED THINKING HE WAS TALKING TO THE MORROCAN KING NOT KNOWING IT WAS SAMBO THAT PICKED THE CALL IN KADUNA



NO WONDER OUR NATION HAS BEEN IN A STATE OF SHOCK AND EMBARRASSMENT SINCE OUR DRUNK PRESIDENT IS ALWAYS IN STUPOR, EVERLY SHOCKED AND EMBARRASSED

This is sad.

At least one thing is clear: the Moroccans clearly attach some value to the truth.

Can we say the same?

And over what? A phone call of questionable value at best?

rusher14:
No sir, it was Borat on the phone.

^^^^


It wouldn't surprise me if borat actually tried to prank Nigeria today and succeeded.

temitemi1:
Someone must be punished for this . GEJ till 2019!!!

Robot............

I decree brain to you because you seriously need one........ The one given to you by Taniods and PDP has expired

OLADD:
I suspect there are moles in Jonathan's govt who are subtly working against him. The president must be more careful in the buildup to the elections.

See conspiracy..........



GEJ always shifting blame to someone else
APC caused fuel scarcity
APC caused the economic meltdown
Buhari caused me to keep romancing with Militants, tout, rogues,

Which other excuse should I put again ooooooooo