What I was told about Nigeria – Japanese ambassador, Kikuta

The new Japanese to Nigeria, Yutaka Kikuta has revealed what ambassadors of other countries in Nigeria told him about the country.

He also said that the international community was closely watching the electoral process in Nigeria ahead of the 2019 general elections.

Kikuta, who spoke in an interview with Vanguard, said that he was told that in Nigeria, one never gets bored due to diversity of interests in the country.

According to him, “I cannot describe Nigeria in one word: a very diversified country, different ethnic groups, religious groups and it’s amazing to see so many different political interests somehow harmonized or maintained, at least, in this very young democracy.

“It’s very interesting for me to open newspapers every morning, everyday something new, something interesting is happening.

“Some ambassadors told me that in this country, you never get bored. I am saying this in a positive sense, so many different opinions; so many different political interests, so many local interests and politicians.

“We don’t know yet which political party will win the next presidential election but I am not focusing on the result of the election but the process. In the 2015 election, the international community was of the opinion that the process should be open, peaceful, and transparent so that the Nigerian people have the right to vote for their future.

“We the international community are closely watching and if necessary we send some kind of message like the declaration the international community issued on Nigeria’s Democracy Day in May.

“We do not have any intention to intervene on who wins or loses, it is Nigeria’s domestic politics. We only want to see the political process in a transparent manner, fair, open for the people of Nigeria because it’s the people that choose the future direction of the country.”

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