U.S delegation to Tinubu’s inauguration making ‘appearance in protest’ – Atiku Camp

Camp of the Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the composition of the delegation dispatched by the United States Government to attend the planned May 29 inauguration of President-elect, Bola Tinubu ‘is merely a diplomatic courtesy,’ and ‘ merely a diplomatic courtesy,’ with nothing to be taken seriously.

According to the spokesperson of the PDP Campaign organisation, Tuesday, Mr Daniel H. Bwala, the delegation headed by the country’s Secretary of Urban and Housing, ‘is a further proof of U.S conditional appearance or appearance in protest.’

It would be recalled that during a media briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, Monday, the United States government announced that its 9-man delegation to the planned inauguration of president-elect, Bola Tinubu will be headed by the country’s Secretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, Marcia L. Fudge.

A statement read at the briefing quoted President Joe Biden as listing eight other government functionaries as part of the delegation which, however, did not include its Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, or Vice President Kamala Harris, who had earlier in the year concluded a three-nation tour of Africa, without visiting Nigeria.

“President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. today announced the designation of a Presidential Delegation to attend the Inauguration of His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu on May 29, 2023, in Abuja, Nigeria.

“The Honorable Marcia L. Fudge, Secretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, will lead the delegation.

“Members of the Presidential Delegation:

“Mr. David Greene, Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., U.S. Embassy Abuja

“The Honorable Sydney Kamlager-Dove, United States Representative (D), California

“The Honorable Marisa Lago, Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, U.S. Department of Commerce

“General Michael E. Langley, Commander of U.S. Africa Command

“The Honorable Enoh T. Ebong, Director, U.S. Trade and Development Agency

“The Honorable Mary Catherine Phee, Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of African Affairs, U.S. Department of State

“The Honorable Judd Devermont, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for African Affairs, National Security Council

 “The Honorable Monde Muyangwa, Assistant Administrator for the Bureau for Africa, U.S. Agency for International Development,” the White House statement read, Monday.

However, reacting to the unveiling of the U.S delegation, Tuesday, Spokesperson of the Atiku Abubakar/Ifeanyi Okowa Campaign Organisation of the main opposition, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Danuiel H. Bwala, said despite condemnations trailing the President Biden decision to acknowledge the Tinubu administration, the American delegation ‘is a further proof of US conditional appearance or appearance in protest.’  

According to Mr. Bwala, Tuesday, in a statement while reacting to the Joe Biden delegation, ‘The normal protocol is to send the president, Vice President or Secretary of State but Secretary of Urban and Housing is to say the least an appearance in protest.’

@The delegation of US to Tinubu’s planned inauguration is a further proof of US conditional appearance or appearance in protest. The normal protocol is to send the president, Vice President or Secretary of State BUT secretary of urban and housing is to say the least an appearance in protest.

@When Buhari was to be Inaugurated in 2015 it was John Kerry, the Secretary of State that showed up. Fact-check me. Whenever the US accepts, recognize and endorse an election outcome. They send either the President, Vice President or Secretary of State.

“Their planned appearance in this case is merely a diplomatic courtesy and not a celebration. They even packed staff (Not the Ambassador) from their embassy in Abuja to attend.

“For the record, the Ambassador is more important than the secretary of housing and urban development,” Bwala said.

The decision by the U.S President has continued to draw the anger of opposition groups in the country who accuse the Joe Biden administration of endorsing the winner of a heavily-disputed elections, which they claim, is still in court.