Chimamanda Writes Biden, Slams Nigeria’s Electoral Process, US Congratulations To Tinubu

Famed author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has in a letter criticised the United States over its congratulatory message to the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, who was declared the winner of the February 25 presidential election.

Chimamanda, in an open letter to US President Joe Biden published in The Atlantic on Thursday, expressed bewilderment that the US went ahead to describe the process as a “competitive election” that “represents a new period for Nigerian politics and democracy.”

American intelligence “surely cannot be so inept”, she argued.

She said, “A little homework and they would know what is manifestly obvious to me and so many others: The process was imperiled not by technical shortcomings but by deliberate manipulation.

“It seemed truly perplexing that, in the context of a closely contested election in a low-trust society, the electoral commission would ignore so many glaring red flags in its rush to announce a winner.

“(It had the power to pause vote counting, to investigate irregularities—as it would do in the governorship elections two weeks later.)”

She further raised the alarm over a brewing rage, especially among young people.

“How surprising then to see the U.S. State Department congratulate Tinubu on March 1,” she said.

Addressing the US president, Chimamanda hoped that he did not personally share what she described as “this cordial condescension”.

To her, a global community for democracy cannot survive in the face of apathy from its most powerful member.

“Why would the United States, which prioritizes the rule of law, endorse a president-elect who has emerged from an unlawful process”? She queried.

“I supported Peter Obi, the Labour Party candidate, and hoped he would win, as polls predicted, but I was prepared to accept any result, because we had been assured that technology would guard the sanctity of votes.”

“Congratulating its outcome, President Biden, tarnishes America’s self-proclaimed commitment to democracy. Please do not give the sheen of legitimacy to an illegitimate process. The United States should be what it says it is,” she said.