TheCable

Timi Frank, a former deputy national publicity secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says the planned meeting between US President Joe Biden and President Bola Tinubu is “anti-American” and against the rule of law.

Molly Phee, assistant US secretary of African affairs, had during a visit to Tinubu, said the Nigerian president is the only African leader Biden wants to meet with on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

UNGA will be held in September in New York.

In a statement on Wednesday, Frank expressed dismay at the timing of the meeting, adding that the presidential election petitions tribunal is expected to give a verdict anytime soon.

“This move by Biden is certainly an anti-American stance on rule of law and a bad example in collaborations in view of the pendency of suits challenging the declaration of Tinubu as president and multiple investigations ongoing concerning his integrity, true identity and academic records both in Nigeria and USA,” he said.

“For me, even if they want to discuss Africa affairs, they can discuss with any other legitimate African leader within the continent.

“However, it is clear the only reason they are seeking this meeting is to protect their selfish interests and it is for this type of unbecoming action that the US is now trying former President Donald Trump.

“It is disheartening to note that at a time when everyone is eagerly waiting on the outcome of the Presidential Election Tribunal, the US will seek to play to the gallery by inviting Tinubu as the sole African leader Biden wishes to meet at UNGA.”

Frank, who is also an ambassador of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) to East Africa and Middle East, said the US should allow the tribunal to determine the petitions against Tinubu before discussing issues bordering on West Africa and the continent as a whole with him.