PRESIDENT-ELECT Bola Tinubu reminisced on how he was granted political asylum in the United States during the government of General Sani Abacha in 1995.
The former head of state had clamped down on human rights activists, lawyers, doctors, journalists and some groups.
The President-elect was a member of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), a group that fought the Abacha administration.
Tinubu had fled the nation as a result of Abacha’s pressure.
Tinubu recounted how America shielded him during the turbulent days during a phone discussion with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
The president-elect’s spokesman, Tunde Rahman, confirmed this in a statement.
“During the talks that lasted about 20 minutes, President-elect Tinubu spoke about his long and eventful sojourn in America, recalling how he was granted asylum by the US when, due to his determined struggle for democracy in Nigeria, he was forced into exile by the late General Sani Abacha’s military junta,” Rahman said.
According to him, the President-elect stated that one of his first goals would be to implement institutional reforms and development initiatives to strengthen the country’s democratic institutions and assist impoverished and vulnerable Nigerians.
In response to Secretary Blinken, the President-elect stated that without national unity, security, economic development, and good administration, Nigeria would not become a better place to live or play its proper role in the African nations.
“He urged the US to factor in Nigeria’s important place in Africa and provide needed assistance in the areas of security and economic investment in order for the nation to lead the way and be a shining example to the rest of the continent.
“Secretary Blinken assured that Nigeria should expect a good and mutually-beneficial relationship with the US,” the statement read in part.
Tinubu, a former Lagos State governor, is expected to be sworn-in as the 16th President of the country on May 29, 2023.
