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America-nigeria Troubled Relations by Dbboy(m): 1:57pm On Oct 24, 2014
ON October 10, 2014, the Nigerian Media reported the visit of the American Ambassador in Nigeria to the American University in Yola, Adamawa State. It was not the meeting with the proprietor of the university, a former vice president and a presidential aspirant under the opposition All Progressives Congress during the visit that made the headlines and raised eyebrows but the denigrating comment of the envoy on that occasion. Ambassador James Entwistle, it was reported, had explained that the United States refusal to sell highly needed weaponry to Nigeria in her war against terror and insurgency in the North East of the country was because “the Nigerian Military is notoriously known for human rights abuses”.
Such tactless and undiplomatic language of the American Ambassador should surprise no one. For years now and against diplomatic norms, it has become the hallmark of American envoys in Nigeria to utilize various public platform provided by unsuspecting Nigerians to lecture and disparage the country, its leaders and institutions.
While its diplomats are busy doing their best to create rupture in relations between the two countries, they are complimented by their bosses in Washington who constantly invite Nigerian leaders, including some past leaders who regrettably use the occasions to demean, discredit and disparage President Goodluck Jonathan and his administration.
In the wake of the kidnapping of the Chibok girls, America in its usual razzmatazz had announced to the whole world that it was sending some special service men and aircraft to help the search for the missing Chibok girls. Weeks and months later all that was heard of America’s involvement and effort was again a disparaging statement that the Americans would not share any intelligence with the Nigerian military because of its corrupt tendencies.
With such statements from American envoys in Nigeria and those from highly placed American officials in Washington, in and out of the Obama administration and the United States congress, it is only fair to question the sincere commitment of the American government to the corporate existence of Nigeria.
This is because the American government, according to official sources, has not only constantly turned down Nigeria’s request for valuable support, in terms of superior weapons to fight the insurgents in the North East, but has successfully blocked Nigeria from purchasing the necessary arms, ammunition and military hardware from other sources. Against this backdrop, explaining or understanding American behaviour and attitude towards Nigeria, which includes humiliating and disparaging the country, its leadership and institutions, becomes very difficult.
This is because for years and in recent times, the American government not only proclaimed and often reiterated its strategic relationship with Nigeria but openly and publically profess its readiness to assist the country and its military in the fight against Boko Haram. Yet when the opportunities presented themselves for America to demonstrate the true essence of strategic relationship and help a friend in dire need, it chooses a different path all together. Equally no Nigerian should be impressed, misled or fooled by American excuses.
There are credible evidence, from available official US records, indicating that the United States has, over the years, executed some of the biggest arms shipments, running into several billions of dollars, to countries with abysmal human rights records, including brutal suppression of democratic dissents. A number of countries in the Middle East, Latin America and Africa, including one which recent history we all know too well, are beneficiaries of American military support.
Besides, even if we stretch the human rights violations a little, it is not America, whose Military and security agencies have had their own share of abysmal records in almost all their operations outside the US, that should openly criticize the Nigerian military the way it does. Rather, the United States can and should show more consideration and understanding as to why military personnel, especially soldiers, misbehave as they often do in war.
For a country often condemned and accused of hypocrisy in its handling of human rights issues by among others, Amnesty International, it would appear that the US government, irrespective of the misbehaviour of its military in war times, operates a double faced sense of propriety where the definition of right and wrong is solely determined by what suits the narrow interest of the American government.
What is more worrisome is that America’s postures against Nigeria, that is facing its worst security challenges since the end of the country’s civil war in the 1970s, comes in the face of American intelligence community’s prediction that the country could break up by 2015 and one is thus left to wonder whether the US attitude is to hasten the fulfillment of that predication. In comparison, the United States is currently mobilizing global support and spending billions of tax payers’ money in humanitarian and military support to prevent the total disintegration of a region it helped to destabilize.
While the Nigerian government needs to be more strategic in its engagement of the United States, it should make it clear to the Americans and their local collaborators that this country will not collapse and is not about to disintegrate. Nigeria will overcome its security challenges with or without American guns or boots on the ground in Nigeria and would emerge stronger.
This is why it is imperative for all Nigerians, on the issue of terrorism and insurgency in the North East, to stand together and support the government and the military. In our unity lies our strength and an unmistakable message is sent to friends and foes alike that, whether they assist us or not, we will survive and emerge a more unified nation.


Ambassador Joe Keshi, a career diplomat, was Consul – General of Nigeria, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

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Re: America-nigeria Troubled Relations by Dbboy(m): 1:57pm On Oct 24, 2014
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Re: America-nigeria Troubled Relations by Sloan: 2:20pm On Oct 24, 2014
Some Nigerians mistake speaking the truth for wanting to disintegrate the country! Lies will disintegrate anything much faster than truth would in a million years, is lying now a virtue? It is not news that the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Army especially, display complete disregard for human rights! Forget that they kill criminals that should be arrested, thoroughly interrogated so that every last piece of detail about crimes committed, is being committed and is planned to be committed will be known and Nigeria using its intelligence apparatus can nip such in the bud, they would quickly kill such a person extra-judicially. This is how cavemen and backward people operate, certainly not a people and country that is trying to advance and in need of human progress!

So, whether the US ambassador or whoever says it plainly that “the Nigerian Military is notoriously known for human rights abuses”, the question is: IS IT TRUE OR NOT? If it is true, why doesn't Nigeria work to change it? The value of a society, the strength of a society is looking at the weakest and smallest in the society, are they being cheated and brutalized? These people are the ones who suffer the most from such brutality and with no one to speak for them, no money to get justice in court and no military oga to help, they are killed, imprisoned and punished unfairly almost every time. Why shouldn't Nigeria do the right thing? If the army arrests a terrorist or criminal or arsonist, there are laws under which he can be prosecuted and convicted if found guilty. If the penalty is not strong enough for certain crimes, there are channels for making laws more severe through the judiciary but do not just kill them quickly to cover up the truth or in anger or because of official incompetence. For how long will Nigeria keep lying to itself? I will end with this: If a man/woman/country is willing and able to tell itself the naked truth about anything and take appropriate actions, there is no man/woman/country that will ever be able to intimidate it or make it uncomfortable by pointing out its flaws.
Re: America-nigeria Troubled Relations by Nobody: 3:10pm On Oct 24, 2014
Continue blaming America for your numerous problems sad
Re: America-nigeria Troubled Relations by Canme4u(m): 3:16pm On Oct 24, 2014
Well done @opTANmember



no be your OGA @theTOP the one who always says "AMERICA WOULD KNOW" now, dem talk what they know, U com dey look for how to connect opposition party. You must be high on pawpaw weeds.
Re: America-nigeria Troubled Relations by Lucasbalo(m): 3:29pm On Oct 24, 2014
Nobleval:
Continue blaming America for your numerous problems sad
Gbam
Re: America-nigeria Troubled Relations by kaeycea(m): 3:55pm On Oct 24, 2014
The hypocrisy of the American govt is phenomenal.. The accuse Nigerian military of human right abuse,.. Even though I'm not holding brief for d nigeria military, is d American military innocent of this same right abuse judging from d news of her intervention across d globe... Thier open refusal to support d NA wit weapon to eliminate terrorism from our frontier is an INDIRECT support to d operations of BH... Exaggeration of right abuse within NA and downplaying d same right abuse within BH is d hallmark of American hypocrisy

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Re: America-nigeria Troubled Relations by unclejb2(m): 3:59pm On Oct 24, 2014
Sloan:
Some Nigerians mistake speaking the truth for wanting to disintegrate the country! Lies will disintegrate anything much faster than truth would in a million years, is lying now a virtue? It is not news that the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Army especially, display complete disregard for human rights! Forget that they kill criminals that should be arrested, thoroughly interrogated so that every last piece of detail about crimes committed, is being committed and is planned to be committed will be known and Nigeria using its intelligence apparatus can nip such in the bud, they would quickly kill such a person extra-judicially. This is how cavemen and backward people operate, certainly not a people and country that is trying to advance and in need of human progress!

So, whether the US ambassador or whoever says it plainly that “the Nigerian Military is notoriously known for human rights abuses”, the question is: IS IT TRUE OR NOT? If it is true, why doesn't Nigeria work to change it? The value of a society, the strength of a society is looking at the weakest and smallest in the society, are they being cheated and brutalized? These people are the ones who suffer the most from such brutality and with no one to speak for them, no money to get justice in court and no military oga to help, they are killed, imprisoned and punished unfairly almost every time. Why shouldn't Nigeria do the right thing? If the army arrests a terrorist or criminal or arsonist, there are laws under which he can be prosecuted and convicted if found guilty. If the penalty is not strong enough for certain crimes, there are channels for making laws more severe through the judiciary but do not just kill them quickly to cover up the truth or in anger or because of official incompetence. For how long will Nigeria keep lying to itself? I will end with this: If a man/woman/country is willing and able to tell itself the naked truth about anything and take appropriate actions, there is no man/woman/country that will ever be able to intimidate it or make it uncomfortable by pointing out its flaws.
human right abuses should not be limited to the army and police alone. When an employee is owed salary for months, that's gross fundamental human rights abuse. There are plenty issues we should always consider while talking about rights abuses. The US is the most double standard policied country on earth. They support and arm terrorists all the world over. They arm rebels and topple govts at random. The US should not tell us anything about human rights. What they don't tell us is what happens whenever they invoke the "marshal laws" in America. I blame our govt for over reliance on the west. No country has ever benefitted from the foreign policy of America. They only aim to demean, dominate, dictate and control everyone.I have a very strong feeling that the US has a hand in the North Easter insurgency in Nigeria.

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