ABUJA, Nigeria – The Government of Nigeria has officially disassociated itself from remarks reportedly made by Nigerian cleric Primate Elijah Ayodele concerning Liberian President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, stressing that the comments were made in a private capacity and do not represent the position of the Nigerian state.
In a diplomatic communication addressed to Liberia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sara Beysolow Nyanti, the Nigerian Government clarified that any statements attributed to Ayodele were his personal views and should not be interpreted as reflecting the policies or opinions of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The communication was signed by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who emphasized that Nigeria operates as a constitutional democracy that upholds freedom of expression. She noted that citizens are free to express personal opinions, provided they do so within the confines of the law.
According to the Nigerian Government, comments made by private individuals are generally not attributable to the state and therefore do not ordinarily constitute matters for diplomatic engagement between sovereign nations.
The communication further expressed surprise that statements allegedly made by a private citizen had become the subject of formal diplomatic correspondence between Liberia and Nigeria. Despite this concern, Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the strong and longstanding relationship that exists between the two countries.
The Nigerian Government underscored the importance of preserving cordial bilateral ties and reiterated its dedication to cooperation with Liberia on issues of mutual interest. It also indicated that future diplomatic engagements should focus on matters directly linked to the actions and policies of the respective governments rather than the personal opinions of private individuals.
Nigeria and Liberia share deep historical, political, and diplomatic relations, with both countries maintaining close cooperation through regional and international platforms. The latest communication from Abuja appears aimed at preventing any misunderstanding that could affect those longstanding ties while reinforcing the distinction between government positions and the personal views of individual citizens.
