In a recent Twitter exchange, political activist and lawyer Dele Farotimi criticized the US Embassy and its Deputy Chief of Mission, David Greene, for their perceived inconsistency between words and actions regarding the state of democracy in Nigeria.
The US Mission Nigeria had posted a tweet quoting Greene as saying, “We aim to support an inclusive future where Nigerians’ votes count and lead to responsive governance, and where they can live in peace.” Farotimi responded to this tweet, highlighting a discrepancy between the US administration’s stated goals and their actions.
He wrote, “Sir, there’s a wide gulf between these words and the actions of successive US administrations. Please do try to align your words and your actions, and understand that the American people gain more from a democratic Nigeria than the feudal one you have helped to entrench.”
Farotimi’s criticism comes in the wake of the controversial 2023 presidential elections in Nigeria, which took place on February 25th. Despite the results being upheld by the judicial system, critics argue that the elections were marred by malpractice.
They have called on international bodies, including the U.S., to acknowledge the alleged injustices that occurred during the elections. However, these calls have so far been met with silence, further fueling the controversy.