Network failure disrupts Obama's attempt to return Goodluck's phone call

culled from HuHuonline

President of United States (U.S.), Barack Obama’s efforts to thank President Goodluck Jonathan for supporting his victory at the U.S. presidential poll was thwarted by the failure of two calls from the White House to Aso Rock to connect.

According to sources close to Huhuonline.com, Obama was personally willing to speak with Jonathan, as the Nigerian president was among the first world leaders to congratulate him after his reelection as American president three weeks ago.

Responding to the glut of congratulatory messages, Obama, it was reported, began calling world leaders who congratulated him from the Thursday of the election week, to return their letters and words of felicitation.

Three White House press statements by Press Secretary, Jay Carney, since Obama’s reelection, have listed names of leaders that the U.S. president has spoken with, with Jonathan’s missing.

However, U.S. sources say Obama was “personally keen” to speak with Jonathan. Specifically, on Monday, 12th November, White House officials, after liaising with the US Embassy in Nigeria and the Nigerian Embassy in the US, got a number to call Aso Rock on, but on two occasions on that day, the calls were not picked up.

One of those who have confirmed Obama’s willingness to speak with Jonathan is Nigeria’s Ambassador to the U.S., Prof Adebowale Adefuye, who has insited that said the actualisation of the failed conversation is still on the cards.

He explained that the U.S. president is very keen on his country’s strategic relationship with Nigeria, and also his growing personal relationship with Jonathan. He added that the new U.S. strategy for Africa in Obama’s second term, which he had seen, ranks Nigeria very high on its priority in the next four years.

He disclosed that the U.S. government has, in fact, agreed, in principle, to a presidential trip to Nigeria during Obama’s second term, which begins in January 2013, based on its happiness with Nigeria’s role in resolving the crisis in Mali by approving the release of 600 soldiers.