The White House Security Spokesman, Mike Hammer, has explained why United States President, Barack Obama did not visit Nigeria or any other African country in his 100 days in office.
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Senator Barack Obama

According to a United States-based Nigerians news agency, Empowered Newswire, the official stated this in an interview with foreign correspondent in Washington on Wednesday.

Hammer stated that President Obama’s engagement on foreign policy was very clear ”from the very beginning, dating even back to the campaign. But if you look at his inaugural address, that his top priority getting started was to re-establish America‘s standing in the world and to have a dialogue with our friends and partners and as well as our adversaries, ”

He was asked by Empowered Newswire why there has not been much action on Nigeria or Africa in the past 100 days.

He said, ”We are certainly engaged on the issues that are most pressing at the moment, whether that be in terms of Sudan, concern about the situation in Zimbabwe. And we just saw the important election that took place in South Africa.”

US government sources had earlier disclosed that during March 23 meeting in Washington, DC, between Nigeria‘s Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, and US Secretary of State, Mrs. Hilary Clinton, the issue of a visit to the White House by Nigeria‘s President, Umaru Yar’Adua, was discussed without a clear outcome.

The minister had reportedly made the request which was met with reluctance.

At the 100-day press briefing Empowered Newswire sought clarification on the matter asking what the expectations should be from Africa, whether Obama would visit Africa.

The US Spokesman declined to make any ”announcements on presidential travels.”

He stated ”I don’t think I will be making news today in terms of travel by the President to Africa. But as you can fully appreciate, given his own upbringing, he has very deep affection for the continent and is very eager to have an opportunity to visit.”

In addition he said ”while I don’t want to make any announcements on presidential travel today, you can certainly anticipate that whenever he gets an opportunity, he‘ll want to travel to Africa.”


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