Abuja — FEDERAL Executive Council (FEC) has described as highhanded and unfair, decision by the United States government to list the country among those to be watched over terror even as the government of Eritrea has pitched its tents with Nigeria in condemning the listing.
Addressing State House Correspondents after the first meeting of the Federal Executive Council, FEC in 2010, Minister of Information and Communication, Prof Dora Akunyili stated that after reviewing the development, government has come to the conclusion that the US verdict on Nigeria was highhanded, especially that the country has participated very actively in all anti-terrorist efforts to wipe out global vices and ratifying other documents to back its commitment.
"Nigeria expresses its disappointment and concern over the underserved placement of the country on the country of interest list and views this action as having the potential of undermining long standing and established US-Nigeria bilateral ties and the goodwill the US enjoys in Nigeria," said the council.
She noted that even though the terrorist suspect is a Nigerian, he was influenced from outside the country as he lived most of his time in other countries and only transited through Nigeria for less than 30 minutes on the day in question where he attempted to bomb an aircraft.
Continuing, Akunyili read out that: "It is on record that Nigeria has signed and ratified 9 out of 16 United Nations and African Union instruments on counter terrorism dealing with issues ranging from money laundering, drug trafficking, crime, to nuclear terrorism. This is in addition to its various roles in peace keeping which have earned it international recognition and commendations of the UN'.
Akunyili said Nigeria has since December 25th when the unfortunate event occurred,expressed deep sorrow and dismay over the incident which it condemned in all ramifications.
Meanwhile, the government of Eritrea yesterday described the listing of Nigeria and other countries on the watch list of terrorism by the United States (US) as a clear display of double standard.
Ambassador of Eritrea to Nigeria , Mohammed Ali Omaro who spoke to newsmen in Abuja also accused the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and the US of supporting the continued occupying of Eritrea land by Ethiopia while sanctioning it over frivolous accusation.
The convoy who noted that the UNSC imposed sanctions which include arms embargo, travel restrictions and asset freezing on Eritrea over alleged role in Somalia as well as refusal to withdraw troops in Djibouti queried the right of the US to determine which country is a terrorist country and which is not.
The Eritrean envoy who reacted to question of US listing Nigerian among the 14 countries said that "we have to call a spade a spade, who decides which country or act as amounting to terrorism."
"14 countries were listed as those not to be stopped from traveling to the USA but that there will be thorough searching and checking but then, what is the reason for that? Who determines that, how can these 14 countries (including Nigeria ) be hosting al-Qaeda and terrorists, it is the double standard of the US " Omaro added.
Omaro who wondered how the Eritrea Government could evade the military bases of US and France with their large naval and air force presence in the Red Sea as well as their sophisticated surveillance system to deliver arms to Somalia armed groups, warned that his people will not succumb to threat and external aggression.
According to him, "the allegations of financial support are equally tenuous. The people and the government of Eritrea are struggling to achieve sustainable socio-economic development through self-reliance. Hence, do not have the financial ability to bankroll armed groups in Somalia .
Eritrea went further to accuse the UN and US of falsifying information especially in the accusation of unresolved dispute with Djibouti, stating that it was aimed at diverting Eritrea from its legal battle to reclaim its occupied territories by Ethiopia.
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" .. (FEC) has described as highhanded and unfair, decision by the United States government to list the country among those to be watched over terror.."
"highhanded"? "unfair"?
Do other countries from whence terrorists - or those who commit acts of terror - emerge receive preferential treatment from the USA government?
Case in Point: Sept 11, 2001 Terror attacks in USA
Most of the terrorists of the Sept 11, 2001 attacks in USA were Saudi Arabians. Yet Saudi Arabia and its citizens were not singled out by USA for the special treatment now directed at Nigeria and Nigerians.
Case in Point: 2001- Shoe-bomber terror attacks An American terrorist attempts to destroy a commercial aircraft in-flight by detonating explosives hidden in his shoes. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Reid_(shoe_bomber)
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Case in Point: 2001-2002 - Anthrax terror attacks
A suspected American bio-terrorist killed 5 people, harmed 68.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001_anthrax_attacks
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Case in Point: 2002 - Terror attacks at the El Al ticket counter in Los Angeles
American resident opened fire at the airport, killing 2, wounding 4.
http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/West/04/12/airport.shooting/
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Case in Point: 2002 - DC sniper terror attacks
American terrorists killed 10, injured 3.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beltway_sniper_attacks
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Case in Point: 2006 - SUV terrorist attack. American terrorist (who worships the terrorists in the Sept 11, 2001 attacks) drives an SUV through a group of pedestrians - 9 injured.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammed_Reza_Taheri-azar_SUV_attack
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Are you still there? Is the anger of the Nigerians justified?
The west needs Nigeria more that Nigerians needs the west. Why are Nigerians whimpering instead of standing up to these foreigners? As if the Nigerians have no options! Do Nigerians really appreciate the extent and potency of their leverage on the west?
One reason not to be cowardly: Crude oil to the west from Nigeria - over US$150,000,000 A DAY.
Do you need more reasons?
Cue: When Belgians threatened to indict Blair, Bush, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz as war criminals - for crimes against humanity in Iraq - the USA did not whimper: It issued credible threats of dire consequences (economic sanctions) and the righteous Belgians immediately cowered in submission..
http://rtsf.wordpress.com/2009/04/03/indict-bush-blair-et-al-for-crimes-aga inst-humanity/
And that touches on only a few cases of 'domestic' terrorism.
How about the cases of international terrorism? The reader can find numerous examples - current and historical - of western countries wreaking terror on natives in countries of the world.
Millions of lives victimized and lost.
It is refreshing to hear the former Sultan of Sokoto reiterate what we common folks have been saying all along about the long run positive outcome of the US usual rush to pre-judge and generalize Nigerians. It would mitigate our govt officials' corruption - instead of stashing their looted funds abroad, they would invest it at home. It would unite our muslim and christian, privileged and poor brothers, alike, in the way we will look at religious dogma and who our true friends are. To many of our African brothers who have been gleefully commenting about Nigerians unnecessary self-flagellation, this brutal critical self analysis is necessary for us identify our problems, thereby find local but novel solutions to them in such a way that many African darlings (poodles) of the West may be blind to see and germinate their own self identity. From these ashes of "self-hatred" would our glory days arose down the road.
Nigeria is one of the few wealthy, oil rich, African countries but what has it to show for it ? Awash as it is with oil, it can even build a modern a clean electric power grid. Instead every rich nigerian has a kerosene generator in the back yard of his million dollar house spewing pollutants in his house and the neighbourhood, living in a cesspool! But yeah, maybe, a filthy rich, but a lost kid who is looking for wayward ideologies. Some worry about the Ottoman empire as if Africa never had empires ? It is learned ignorance. Africa is not doing a good job rasing its children inculcating in, and demonstrating, to them they got everything there in Africa. The fault is colonial-minded "elders" who are spending all their lives and fortunes dreaming of other empires in far off lands when they got everything under their noses. Africa too can and should have its own empire: the United States of Africa, instead of whining while being kicked and pushed around like you ain't got nothin. The Saudi Arabias of Middle East are respected because they put their oil wealth to good use unlike similarly oil rich african countries who have shown expertise at squandering theirs. Really, whose fault is this ?
"Nigeria is one of the few wealthy, oil rich, African countries but what has it to show for it ? "
Perhaps not much.
There are many reasons offered by foreign plunderers and their lackeys as to why Nigerians of one of the world's leading resource-rich countries are among the poorest in the world - and in Africa. [The game is called "Blame the victim"]
It should be noted that 'ordinary' Nigerians - especially the so-called 'educated' class - have not done their part in pursuing the benefits that should accrue to Nigerians from the exploitation and export of Nigeria's resources.
But first, to be able to agitate for Nigeria, one needs to be well-informed - especially on Nigeria's strengths. From time immemorial, African leaders - and leaders in the west - depended on an informed citizenry and good advisers for the inputs that go into good decision-making.
For instance: How well do the leading voices found in these blogs know Nigeria?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Nigeria
[Then we wonder why that public page has not been edited by Nigerians to rid it of racist imperial posturings ..]
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Not many Nigerians know that Nigeria is among the world's leading exporters of certain commodities.
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0922041.html
http://www.mapsofworld.com/world-top-ten/countries-with-most-timber-produci ng-countries.html
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Is there reason to worry? What is the extent of Nigeria's reserves? Considering the rate at which the reserves are exploited, is that mineral wealth going to last for ever? [Check online for data on reserves and daily outputs] [Note that from such data, one gets an estimate about the possible trajectories which Nigeria may realize in its economic development - before its oil wealth runs out .. To address tis issue one needs to have a intimate familiarity with the management of large projects. Question: If Nigeria is among Africa's poorer countries while it has enormous oil-wealth, how poorer will it get when its oil reserves are fully exploited?] .
Nigeria has many educated people who can bring to the attention of Nigerians a quantitative analysis of the extent to which the western blood-suckers drain it of its wealth - and deny Nigerians their fair share of their own resources.
For instance, whereas the western oil companies may hold tight on critical data regarding their operations, Nigerians should be able to come up with estimates from publicly available data. For instance: Data is available on Nigeria's daily exports of crude oil[online] AND data on daily price of crude oil on world markets.
In absence of proprietary data on the operations of the western oil companies in Nigeria or (Africa in general), there is a critical piece of information that bestows upon the Nigerian and the law makers the bargaining - and indeed imperial - power: The "break-even point" for the western oil companies operating in Africa is US$11 to $15 a barrel. [Give this bit of info to a Nigeria steeped in western accounting methods and watch his face light up with glee...]
More should be written on this - and the ideas here made clearer to those in a position to disseminate them to the public at large. My thrust here is that it is fashionable to blame the leaders. But the population (of the pompous 'educated' but selfish, wealth-seeking Nigerians) at large and especially the euro-centric media in Africa (as expected) have NOT been helpful.
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