Nigeria summons US envoy over Trump’s ‘racist remarks’

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday summoned the Deputy Chief of Mission, United States Embassy in Abuja, David Young, over the alleged racist remarks by President Donald Trump, describing African nations as ‘shithole countries.’

Mr Trump used the term during a reportedly last week bipartisan Oval Office meeting on immigration reform.

Trump however denied that he was racist, during an interview with White House reporters at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach in Florida, United States on Sunday night.

Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, summoned the US envoy to his office to seek clarification on the veracity or otherwise of the substance of the remarks.

Onyeama, according to a statement by the ministry’s spokesperson, Tope EliasFatile, stressed that if the remarks were true, they were deeply hurtful, offensive and unacceptable given the friendly ties between both countries.

The statement further said, “Ambassador Young pointed out that there were contradicting accounts by those present as to the veracity or otherwise of the substance of the remarks.

“He stressed that his government continued to hold the people of Nigeria in very high regard and valued the warm relations and excellent cooperation between the two countries and looked forward to building on this relationship for the mutual benefit of the two countries,” the statement said.

The US ambassador to Nigeria, Stuart Symington was out of the country.