- It has been revealed that President Buhari called the Egyptian president first in Africa
- This is contrary to what Buhari's aides said
Abdel-Fattah Sisi
When President Muhammadu Buhari received a call from U.S. President Donald Trump, his media aides said he was the first to receive such a call.
Tolu Ogunlesi the special assistant on Digital/New Media to President Buhari said on his Twitter account:
While, Garba Shehu, the senior special assistant, Media and Publicity to President Buhari told Channels Television on February 14 that Trump’s call to Buhari was not entirely surprising given Nigeria’s place in Africa, especially in areas of diplomacy and politics.
“It shouldn’t surprise anyone that President Trump made the choice of making the first African call to the Nigerian President,” he said.
READ ALSO: White House confirms Trump's call to President Buhari
According to Premium Times, Tolu Ogunlesi later said he was referring to sub-Saharan Africa.
The fact however is that Trump spoke to Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, the president of Egypt on January 23, three days after his inauguration and three weeks before calling Buhari and South African President Jacob Zuma on February 13.
There were doubts in some sectors as to the authenticity of the call, but according to a release on the official website of the White House titled 'readout of the President’s Call with President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria,' Trump discussed diverse issues with his Nigeria counterpart.
The full text of the phone call can be read here.