The Moroccan Ambassador to Nigeria has been recalled by his country, which has accused the Nigerian government of using the name of Morocco’s King Mohammed VI for political purposes.
According to the Moroccan foreign ministry, the King never spoke by phone to Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan, as had been stated by Nigeria. The government of Morocco described the claims of the Nigerian government as “unethical.”
The government of Morocco insists that the Nigerian president is trying to use the king to win over Muslim voters but Nigeria has denied that charge.
The Nigerian ministry of foreign affairs released a statement on Sunday, denying reports that President Jonathan had been snubbed by King Mohammed because he was trying to curry favour with Muslim voters.
“This information is absolutely not correct as the president did in fact speak to the Moroccan monarch… both leaders spoke extensively over the phone on matters of mutual interest and concern,” it said.
However, Morocco’s foreign ministry responded by saying it wanted to state in the “clearest and strongest terms” that “there has never been a phone conversation” between the two men.
“The King has actually declined the request of the Nigerian government because it is part of the internal electioneering,” Morocco’s official news agency Map quoted the statement as saying.
“The kingdom of Morocco expresses its astonishment and denunciation to these unethical practices that are contrary to the spirit of responsibility that must prevail in relations between states.”
As a consequence, Morocco’s ambassador in Abuja was has been recalled immediately for consultations.
