A former deputy national publicity secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Timi Frank, has described the planned meeting between US President, Joe Biden and President Bola Tinubu, as “anti-American,” noting that the meeting is against the rule of law.
Frank in a statement on Wednesday, expressed disappointment at the timing of the meeting, noting that the presidential election petitions tribunal is expected to give a verdict anytime soon.
It would be recalled that the assistant US secretary of African affairs, Molly Phee, had during a recent visit to President Tinubu, said the Nigerian president is the only African leader Biden wants to meet, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, which is slated for September, in New York.
Reacting to the development, Mr. Frank wrote: “This move by Biden is certainly an anti-American stance on the rule of law and a bad example in collaborations given the pendency of suits challenging the declaration of Tinubu as president and multiple investigations ongoing concerning his integrity, true identity and academic records both in Nigeria and the USA,” he said.
“For me, even if they want to discuss African affairs, they can discuss with any other legitimate African leader within the continent.
“However, it is clear the only reason they are seeking this meeting is to protect their selfish interests and it is for this type of unbecoming action that the US is now trying former President Donald Trump.
“It is disheartening to note that at a time when everyone is eagerly waiting on the outcome of the Presidential Election Tribunal, the US will seek to play to the gallery by inviting Tinubu as the sole African leader Biden wishes to meet at UNGA.”
The former Chieftain of the APC, who is also an ambassador of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua, to East Africa and the Middle East, however, maintained that the US should allow the tribunal to determine the petitions against Tinubu before discussing issues bordering on West Africa and the continent as a whole with him.
