Visiting US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton on Thursday said assured President Goodluck Jonathan of her country’s support to implement tough decisions he will need to take to reform various sectors in Nigeria.
She made the promise during a joint press briefing with President Jonathan at the presidential villa in Abuja today after a 20 minute close door meeting with Mr Jonathan, which was followed by an expanded meeting with the National Security Council, comprising Jonathan (chairman), Vice-President Namadi Sambo (deputy chairman); Chief of Defence Staff; Minister of Interior; Minister of Defence; Minister of Foreign Affairs; National Security Adviser; Inspector-General of Police; and Director-General of the State Security Service.
At the Joint Press briefing with President Jonathan, Clinton said “I appreciate that you know how committed United States and the Obama Administration is to our partnership with your country. We consider it absolutely vital to our Bi- National commission which as you have mentioned has helped us to expand and deepen our cooperation on full range of issues. We are working on economic matters, the improvement of productivity in agriculture, education and health, security, diversification of your economy and so much more.”
“We intend to remain very supportive on your reform efforts. Thank you for mentioning the work we did together on the election. We were also very supportive of anti-corruption reform efforts, more transparency in the work that you and your team are also championing because we really believe that the future for Nigeria is limitless but the most important task that you face, as you have said, is making sure that there are better opportunities for all Nigerians, South, East, West, every young boy and girl to have chance to fulfill his God given potential.”
“We want to work with you and we will be by your side as you make the reforms and take the tough decisions that are necessary”, Clinton who came on a day visit to Nigeria added.
In his earlier remarks, President Jonathan had commended her and President Barack Obama for their interest in Africa, especially Nigeria. Clinton had on July 31 begun an African tour of countries like Senegal, Uganda, South Sudan, Kenya, Malawi and South Africa.
“We have never reached for quiet some time by personally chairing the Bi-national and we have discussed various things – security, economy and so on and so forth. She has been very very supportive. And of course the President of America, President Obama administration is also quiet passionate about Africa and Nigeria. He has always been very supportive of us for the past five years. From the days I came in as vice president especially that period as a nation we faced a lot of challenge when the late president was very ill and we passed through turbulence period.
“And the support they gave us is one of the support that stabilised this country. And when we insisted we must conduct an election that is free and fair and that is the only way we can stabilise democracy, they were very supportive. They gave us moral support, technical support to INEC and assisted us to make sure that we conducted elections that national and international observers declared it as quiet free and fair.
“So let me on behalf of government and good people of Nigeria really thank you and President Obama and the good people of America for this your support for Nigeria and Africa and all what you are doing to make sure that this part of the globe.
