Chimamanda Adichie Warns US President Biden Against Congratulating Tinubu

Globally celebrated author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has warned the President of the United States, Joe Biden, against congratulating Nigeria’s president-elect, Bola Tinubu.

In an open letter on Thursday addressed to Biden, Adichie expressed dissatisfaction over the process of the presidential election conducted on February 25.

She said the election was marred by widespread violence, ballot box snatching, voter’s intimidation, and other malpractices which were all shunned by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The author also stated that the INEC failed to deliver on its promise to upload election results from polling units in real-time via its result viewing portal.

Chimamanda said the election that produced Tinubu was tainted with irregularities as pictures of result sheets taken by voters from various polling units did not match the sheets belatedly uploaded on the commission’s server.

The writer further called on Biden to not remain apathetic toward the current state of Nigeria by endorsing the results of the “undemocratic process”.

“Congratulating its (election) outcome, Biden tarnishes America’s self-proclaimed commitment to democracy,” Chimamanda said in a letter titled “Nigeria’s Hollow Democracy” published in The Atlantic on Thursday.

Adichie said it was shocking that the US state department congratulated Tinubu, and further described the election as a “competitive election” that “represents a new period for Nigerian politics and democracy”.

She said, “How surprising then to see the U.S. State Department congratulate Tinubu on March 1. ‘We understand that many Nigerians and some of the parties have expressed frustration about the manner in which the process was conducted and the shortcomings of technical elements that were used for the first time in a presidential election cycle,’ the spokesperson said.

“And yet the process was described as a “competitive election” that “represents a new period for Nigerian politics and democracy.”

“American intelligence surely cannot be so inept. A little homework and they would know what is manifestly obvious to me and so many others: The process was imperiled not by technical shortcomings but by deliberate manipulation.

“I hope, President Biden, that you do not personally share this cordial condescension. You have spoken of the importance of a “global community for democracy,” and the need to stand up for “justice and the rule of law.”

“A global community for democracy cannot thrive in the face of apathy from its most powerful member. Why would the United States, which prioritizes the rule of law, endorse a president-elect who has emerged from an unlawful process?

“I hope it will not surprise you, President Biden, if I argue that the American response to the Nigerian election also bears the faint taint of that word, compromised, because it is so removed from the actual situation in Nigeria as to be disingenuous.

“Has the United States once again decided that what matters in Africa is not democracy but stability? (Perhaps you could tell British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who quickly congratulated Tinubu, that an illegitimate government in a country full of frustrated young people does not portend stability.)

“Or is it about that ever-effulgent nemesis China, as so much of U.S. foreign policy now invariably seems to be? The battle for influence in Africa will not be won by supporting the same undemocratic processes for which China is criticized.”

Chimamanda further called on Biden to not remain apathetic toward the current state of Nigeria by endorsing the results of the “undemocratic process,”.

“You have spoken of the importance of a ‘global community for democracy,’ and the need to stand up for ‘justice and the rule of law.’ A global community for democracy cannot thrive in the face of apathy from its most powerful member.

“Why would the United States, which prioritises the rule of law, endorse a president-elect who has emerged from an unlawful process?,” she wrote.

The Americanah author also argued that many Nigerians are upset not because their preferred candidate lost in the election but “because the election they had dared to trust was, in the end, so unacceptably and unforgivably flawed.”

“Congratulating its outcome, President Biden, tarnishes America’s self-proclaimed commitment to democracy. Please do not give the sheen of legitimacy to an illegitimate process. The United States should be what it says it is,” she concluded.

KanyiDaily recalls that the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi had filed a petition against Bola Tinubu’s victory at the Presidential Elections Tribunal in Abuja.