#nIGERIADECIDEs: Your vote matters, US’ Secretary of State, Blinken, tells Nigerians

*Nigeria not involved in US-led new world order struggle – Report

By OUR REPORTER, Abuja

Secretary of State in the United States of America, Mr. Anthony Blinken, has said to Nigerians that they have a chance to make their voices heard in the February 25, 2023 presidential election in their country.

Blinken reportedly said this in a video message shared on Wednesday By the American Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria.

According to the video, Blinken said the people of Nigeria have a chance to make their voices heard and to choose their future.

According to the Consulate, the short clip which had Blinken and other senior administration officials speak on the elections, was shared in the hope that Nigerians understand that the United States stands with them as they head to the polls.

The DEFENDER reports that United States government was doing this amidst possible realization of Nigeria’s position as a neutral body in the America-led NATO hitherto proxy but now glaring war against Russia in Ukraine.

The Africa’s biggest economy is friend and will continue to do business with all nations including Russia, China, America, Saudi Arabia, India, Pakistan, Turkiye among others. Also, President Muhammadu Buhari has also pointed it out to foreign nations and agents not to, any time, meddle in the internal affairs of Nigeria.

For that reason, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken stares clear of any controversy when in the video he makes categorical statement that shows the government of his Joe Biden-led Government does not support any individual presidential candidate in Nigeria’s transition election process to pick its next President.

However, he stressed that America strongly supports free, fair and peaceful elections as enshrined in the constitution, which is one that reflects the will of the people.

“Your vote matters, this election matters, not only to Nigerians, but to the rest of the world,” the U.S Secretary of State emphasized.

He added that “the Nigerian people have a friend and partner in the United States of America”.

The US Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, who was one of the officials in the video said, free and fair elections in Nigeria will “help create a freer and fairer world for everyone”.

Ms Thomas-Greenfield further stated that America is invested in Nigeria’s success, adding that the shared democratic futures of both countries depends on the triumphs of the Nigerian people.

Similarly, Samantha Powers, a USAID Administrator who also was in the video, urged Nigerians to go to INECNigeria.org to prepare themselves on how to vote.

Speaking further, Ms Powers asserted that Nigerians must be prepared to vote because each citizen’s voice matters.