Just In: Buhari reportedly suffered international embarrassment

President Muhammadu Buhari has suffered another international embarrassment from two of his Aides; Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, and Assistant on Digital Communication, Garba Shehu, and Tolu Ogunlesi, respectively.

The two Media Aides to the President, had asserted that Buhari was the first African President that President Donald Trump spoke to, since he (Trump) was inaugurated as the President of the United States of America, U.S.

“It shouldn’t surprise anyone that President Trump made the choice of making the first African call to the Nigerian President,” he had told Channels Television, on February 14.

Also, Ogunlesi had made the same assertion in a Twitter update, shortly after news broke that the call did take place between the two leaders. 

“Nigeria and SA take first and second places on POTUS (President of the United States) Africa call list. As they should really. Also not surprising, BH (Boko Haram)/terror was the main focus of Nigeria’s call,” Ogunlesi had said.

However, findings on Saturday, revealed that Trump had spoken with his Egyptian counterpart, Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi, on January 23, three days after his inauguration, and three weeks before calling Buhari and South African President, Jacob Zuma, on February 13.

This contradicts claims by Nigerian Presidential Media Aides, that Trump’s call to Buhari, was the first to any African leader, since being sworn-in a month ago.

Channels Television appeared to have relied on the information passed by the Media Aides, in also incorrectly making the same claim.

“Now, the conversation between both Presidents, is the first U.S. President, Donald Trump, will be having with an African leader, so what impact would this have on U.S.-Nigeria relations,” the station said in its 10:00 p.m. bulletin on February 13.