The permanent secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Dr. Martin Uhomoibhi has summoned the Zimbabwean envoy, Mr. Stanley Kunjeku to express the Federal Government’s protest over President Mugabe’s unfriendly remarks which portrayed Nigeria and Nigerians as corrupt. He expressed the dissatisfaction on 11th April, 2014 in Abuja.
President Mugabe was quoted as saying that ‘’We are now just like Nigeria where you have to reach your pocket to get anything done.’’
Amb. Uhomoibhi stressed that, “We want to present the strongest protest on that statement. Not only does it not reflect the reality in our country but it came from a sitting President of a brotherly country. We thought it was most unkind and very dishonourable; so we take the strongest exception to it and we protest in the strongest form, not only for its inaccuracy but also for the unfriendly attitude that it conveyed from the President towards Nigeria and Nigerians.”
The Perm. Sec. described the statement as unfortunate, vitriolic and derogatory to our nation.
Amb. Uhomoibhi then brought to fore the pivotal role Nigeria played during the Southern African struggle for political independence. He reminded Mr. Kunjeku that Nigeria always stood with Zimbabwe “shoulder to shoulder”; adding that Nigeria empathized with Zimbabwe when sanctions were imposed on her.
The Zimbabwean’ envoy then promised that Nigeria’s position would be conveyed to the authorities in Harare.
It would be recalled that on March 15th, 2014, President Robert Mugabe was quoted as making the derogatory statement about Nigeria while hosting Service Chiefs on the occasion of his 90th Birthday in Harare, the Zimbabwean Capital.
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