The Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mallam Garba Shehu, has said it would be “undiplomatic” to release the audio of his principal’s phone conversation with US President, Donald Trump.
On Monday, Trump reportedly spoke with Buhari, who is currently in the UK on medical vacation and there have been calls from some quarters for proof of the conversation to be released.
Shehu said: “No, I don’t think so; I don’t think it is permitted in international diplomacy. I think if we had recorded Mr Trump in this conversation it would have offended our diplomatic relations.
“I think the Americans themselves would not have recorded this conversation of president to president.”
He added: “Well, there wasn’t enough time to talk about everything. I think the point at what will follow is in the invitation that President Trump has extended to our president (Buhari) to come over.
“That is the kind of opportunity that was presented to Nigeria put all the issues on the desk.
“As for their immigration policy, I think our president has been clear about one thing – the choices made by the Americans as to who to lead them in this case, Mr Trump, is entirely their own choice.
“We have no business interfering with their domestic affairs.”
As to the countries that have barred, it has been clearly specified and Nigeria did not feature in the list,” he said.
Buhari was initially scheduled to return February 5, but he sent a letter to the Senate asking for an indefinite extension of his vacation.
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