James Entwistle, a U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria who overstepped his bounds and broke diplomatic protocol by storming the presidential election collation centre in Abuja during the 2015 polls, an action never heard of, met President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday to say Goodbye.
Suspicions that President Goodluck Jonathan was about to rig the 2015 elections led Entwistle to storm the collation centre while results were still being collated in Abuja.
He was rebuked in a strongly worded editorial by The Punch Newspaper, a Nigerian daily outraged by the lack of respect for the sovereignty of Nigeria by a United States diplomat.
He had earlier organised a meeting between Mr. Jonathan and Mr. Muhammadu Buhari in Lagos instead of Abuja, an action described by many as totally disrespectful to the Nigerian presidency.
On Tuesday, President Buhari received the outgoing Entwistle and the outgoing High Commissioner of Canada, Perry J. Calderwood, in Statehouse.
Buhari and the outgoing High Commissioner of Canada, Perry J. Calderwood, in Statehouse on Tuesday
While receiving Entwistle, President Buhari expressed appreciation for the important role the United States Government played in the success of the 2015 general elections in Nigeria.
He said the U.S insistence on free, fair and violent-free elections largely contributed to the deepening of democracy in the country.
President Buhari receives Outgoing Ambassador of United States of America to Nigeria H.E. James F. Entwistle with them is the deputy Ambassador Mrs Maria Brewer and Minister of State Foreign Affairs Mrs Khadija Bukar Ibrahim in Statehouse on 12th July 2016
“The U.S support before, during and after the 2015 elections was vital to Nigeria’s stability and I will never forget the role they played in the stability of Nigeria.
Buhari and Entwistle
“We were lucky to have had an INEC Chairman who was competent and courageous.
“Mr Ambassador, you occupied a position at a very strategic time in Nigeria’s history and I hope our historians will record this because it meant so much for our stability.
“I hope you write a book on your experience in Nigeria. The commitment of U.S in supporting Nigeria has been unprecedented, ’’ the President told the outgoing U.S envoy.
President Buhari also thanked the Americans for their military, intelligence and humanitarian support to Nigeria on the ongoing Boko Haram insurgency.
He said Nigeria also valued U.S contributions to promoting regional peace and stability through the instrumentality of the G7.
The President also commended the Government of Canada’s humanitarian assistance to Nigerians displaced by the insurgency in the North East, and their commitment to polio eradication in the country.
He highlighted the Federal Government’s effort to facilitate voluntary return of displaced persons in addition to ensuring that conditions in North-eastern Nigeria improve significantly before the next farming season.
In their separate remarks, Ambassadors Entwistle and Calderwood had expressed concern on the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the North East with looming reports of food crisis and malnutrition.
Entwistle said the bilateral relationship between both countries had remained very vibrant and cordial.
“I had a marvellous three-and-half years in Nigeria and I am grateful to have been involved in the memorable elections in 2015,’’ he said.