United States Senator Ted Cruz on Thursday said he did not mean to offend Nigerians when he took a jibe at the technical glitches being experienced by the website of a new US healthcare law commonly known as Obamacare.

During an appearance in his home state of Texas this week, the Republican Party lawmaker referenced what he called “Nigerian e-mail scammers.”

Senator Cruz was speaking about technical glitches on a new US government website that have prevented Americans from buying health insurance under the Affordable Health Care Act, or Obamacare.

Cruz, who has voiced opposition to the measure, jokingly said, “You know the Nigerian e-mail scammers? They have been a lot less active lately because they have all been hired to run the Obamacare web site.”

His comments stirred outrage among Nigerians and some political commentators across the world, as they demanded an apology from the controversial senator.

The Texas-based KTRK broadcast station reports that a spokesman for Senator Cruz reacted, saying: “The senator was making a joke based on the official term of a commonly utilised type of scam. He meant no offence.”

The Nigerian embassy in Washington has called Cruz’s remarks “unguided.”
In a statement, the Deputy Chief of Mission, Ambassador B.E. Archibong, said the embassy views the comments as a “very expensive joke that was taken too far,” VOA reports.

Senator Cruz’s comments have also been criticized by the Nigerian-American Leadership Council.

In a VOA interview, Executive Director Sam Okey Mbonu said Cruz should issue a “clarification.”
“It is certainly not the most responsible statement from a United States senator,” he said.

“We believe that partisanship has its limits and one does not establish credibility on a national platform by running down a section of the American community.”

Okey Mbonu said some Nigerian Americans would consider the joke offensive.

“It is certainly insensitive,” he said.

“For a senator who perhaps has some medium-term plans for being in the public for a long period of time, we think that those kinds of comments should be well thought out.”

Pastor Felix Awotula with Redeemed Christian Church of God says he fielded calls at his church throughout the day.

“I’m not too sure of the motive behind that. But anyway, the statement has been made, and it has a devastating effect in the mind of Nigerians because we don’t want to identify the country with anything negative. I’m not saying all Nigerians are perfect,” Awotula said.

A commentator, Dallas Jones, with Elite Change, Inc, said: “That type of dialogue is inflammatory. I think it is one that will divide us, as opposed to unite us, and I think that’s what the country wants right now; they want to be united, they want real leadership that’s not going to be culturally insensitive.”

Some viewers say they’ve contacted the senator’s office, asking for an apology.

israel007: He should come out and say it in clear terms: 'NIGERIANS I AM SORRY!,

gbanikiti: Ogugua,I hope you are happy now. The senator said he was only joking.

Now to some serious issues bothering our nation......

ogugua88:

Where is the apology?

Why don't you sit up and take a look as to how things are done, how things work, when people are proactive. A senator was insultive and progressive Nigerians will not tolerate such. Nigerian outrage has reached CNN, the Huffington Post, MSNBC, etc. Local news, national news, and international news. The Nigerian Ambassador to the USA has made his own statement. A public apology must come for his public abuse.

ifyalways: Madam how far ?

ogugua88:

Where is the apology?

Why don't you sit up and take a look as to how things are done, how things work, when people are proactive. A senator was insultive and progressive Nigerians will not tolerate such. Nigerian outrage has reached CNN, the Huffington Post, MSNBC, etc. Local news, national news, and international news. The Nigerian Ambassador to the USA has made his own statement. A public apology must come for his public abuse.

venorite: To hell with you and your apology. Bunch of clowns called Americans thinking they are better than everyone

ogugua88:

Where is the apology?

Why don't you sit up and take a look as to how things are done, how things work, when people are proactive. A senator was insultive and progressive Nigerians will not tolerate such. Nigerian outrage has reached CNN, the Huffington Post, MSNBC, etc. Local news, national news, and international news. The Nigerian Ambassador to the USA has made his own statement. A public apology must come for his public abuse.

ledafaze: Haven't I said this? Lets wait and see

ogugua88:

The article featured is old, probably from Monday. Notice the heading says "US Senator Apologizes" and the last sentence in the article says "Some viewers say they’ve contacted the senator’s office, asking for an apology."