Chuks Okocha in Abuja

A former Nigerian Consul-General to the United States, Ambassador Joe Keshi, has described the recent statements credited to the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle, on why his country is blocking arms purchase by the Nigerian government as “tactless and undiplomatic.”

In a statement titled: “America-Nigeria troubled relations,’ issued in Abuja, Keshi said it was unfortunate that the American envoy had failed to understand the enormity of the security challenges facing Nigeria and use his position to foster relations between the two countries who are prime targets of terrorist attacks and insurgency.

While regretting that certain former Nigerian leaders and opposition politicians were conniving with American envoys to discredit the President Goodluck Jonathan administration and create a gulf between Nigeria and the Barack Obama presidency, the diplomat said the current security challenges make it imperative for Nigerians to stand up and protect the honour of their country regardless of their differences.

Keshi, who was once a Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the American government which failed in its promise to assist Nigeria in the search and rescue of the Chibok girls should not be seen to be taking a position which could demoralise the Nigerian military or denigrate the Nigerian government.

While describing the American policy as “double faced,” the diplomat said “No Nigerian should be impressed, misled or fooled by American excuses. There are credible evidence, from available official US records indicating that the US has over the years, executed some of the biggest arms shipments, running into several billions of dollars to countries with abysmal human right records including brutal suppression of democratic dissents. A number of countries in the Middle East, Latin America and African including one which recent history we all know too well are beneficiaries of American military support.”

The ambassador wondered if the refusal of the American government to sell essential arms to Nigeria and its subtle blockade of same by other countries was an indirect way of hastening the fulfillment of a prediction that the country would break up by 2015 while “In comparison, the United States is currently mobilising 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 destabilise.”

On the excuse given by the American envoy that the Nigerian military has a record of human rights abuses in its war against terror, Keshi said the US government had also been accused of gross human rights violations by the Amnesty International; wondering whether “the definition of right and wrong is solely determined by what suits the narrow interest of the American government.”

Keshi, however, expressed optimism that Nigeria will come out stronger and more united to overcome all its challenges at the end of the war against terror and insurgency in the North-eastern part of the country.


http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/keshi-tackles-us-envoy-to-nigeria/192108/

Yes oh!

Say it as it is

These Americans and their wahala, person no know which way to follow them again.
Abi make we all relocate to America
then if you get there them no go want you there unless you want stay as illegal immigrant and
die from poverty!

Make we try to dey maintain our side oh!!!!

Spot on!

The earlier we realize that the West will not give you any assistance for nothing, the better for us.

They will give you an arm and take a head strictly on their own terms.

Who made them judge over the rest of the world?
You are accusing someone of human right abuse.....how did you deal with the abuses committed by your troops in Iraq and co?

I am not saying that our soldiers are the most professional and most disciplined.....no.

Sincerely they have my respect. For the fact that they answered the great call of defending the territorial integrity of Nigeria, by denying themselves the comfort of their homes and their loved ones...i salute them.

This same America and co promised to send some troops to help locate the kidnapped Chibok girls......please ask them how far they have gone with that assistance. We are not saying you should give us the weapons for free....we have our cash and we are ready to pay. Assistance you didn't give and you are blocking all efforts to get the assistance.

Maybe they are praying for Nigeria to be like Syria and Iraq..so that they can come and claim big brother

"He who comes to equity must come with clean hands"

I thought it was our erstwhile coach, wanted to say whether He has gotten some balls. LOL!

"...... While describing the American policy as “double faced,” the diplomat said “No Nigerian should be impressed, misled orfooled by American excuses. There are credible evidence, from available official US records indicating that the US has over the years, executed some of the biggest arms shipments, running into several billions of dollars to countries with abysmal human right records including brutal suppression of democratic dissents. A number of countries in the Middle East, Latin America and African including one which recent history we all know too well are beneficiaries of American military support.”

.................................. Joe Keshi.

I love this man's bluntness on this issue. Someone needs to tell Americans to their face of their evil acts.

This is the response GEJ people should have had in US, Internet, and paper media the next day. They still underestimate the PR power of the opposition.

naijaking1:
This is the response GEJ people should have had in US, Internet, and paper media the next day. They still underestimate the PR power of the opposition.

They did.

Them no know Keshi was a renowned number 5. I like the way he give that Enthistwle sliding tackle.
When American soldiers did bad things in baghad prison, did they stop supplying their army arms?
When America soldiers shoot village women and childrens in Afghanistan and Irak, did they take guns from their soldier?
Why should they say Nigeria Army should nit have gun again?
Because a few rogue soldiers cut a few boko haram throat?
Nonesense!
Even Mexico police and soldier taht kill people pass olopa, they still supply them arms and ammunition!
Nonesense and ingredients!

Nawa wo naija by the way have u been in this site www.instansound.com its naija version soundcloud their app is here https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.instansound

So proud of this man..so honest..the trut is dat america is d sole country destabilizing the world peace,they armed syrian rebels which lata turned ISIS...and dey tend 2 be fighting their so called armed men..wot a funny country america is.they wil be surprise that after there so called 2015 break up,Nigeria wil remain stronger as one...2 hell wit dem.God bless amb. Keshi and oda honest Nigerians who are not afraid 2 say the trut

Word sir.

Spot On Mr Keshi. America's hypocrisy makes my skin crawl, they have no shame and they even think other people in the world are mumu like their citizens that believe anything they say and propgate in their media.

Now they said they blocked our arm deals because of human right issues which everyone in the world knows is a very BIG Lie.

They blocked our arms purchases because they want their prediction to come to pass, they want Nigeria to be destablized. If Nigeria will breakup it would never be on any country's terms except ours.

America supplys arm to Ukraine army, Iraq, Syria oppositions (isis), Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and many more that all has human right abuse records.

Isis is using American supplied arms, American APC's yet they are still talking of arming Syrian rebels. Who are those Syrian rebels if not isis.

The American Government remains a threat to world peace.

I respect Keshi's boldness and bluntness. My people says "rat wen dey inside clayey pot, na sense dem take dey kill am make the pot for no break".

America, who ever made you the world super power, nothing lasts forever. One day you shall be no more and another world super power shall rise.

G12:
I respect Keshi's boldness and bluntness. My people says "rat wen dey inside clayey pot, na sense dem take dey kill am make the pot for no break".

America, who ever made you the world super power, nothing lasts forever. One day you shall be no more and another world super power shall rise.

God bless you.

They refused to sale arms to Nigeria because of the law passed against Homosexual,i know it will happen,They have been doing it since time Imo River

christejames:
I thought it was our erstwhile coach, wanted to say whether He has gotten some balls. LOL!

Na only him dey answer the sure name?

This is what u get when u are not 'self-dependent', but on others. The US created boko haram via pdp to help destabilize Nigeria, how do u expect them to give u arm to fight the monster they helped create with the support of pdp?
I cant wait to see America in internal war that will 'fractionate' that country that har given the world more sleepless nights.

MrBigPrick:
Keshi should take it easy and get himself another job.
What if an American club want to hire him nko? He better not spoil his own market O.


-MrBigPrick

See your life, I'm sorry for some Nigerians.

Caseless:
This is what u get when u are not 'self-dependent', but on others. The US created boko haram via pdp to help destabilize Nigeria, how do u expect them to give u arm to fight the monster they helped create with the support of pdp?
I cant wait to see America in internal war that will 'fractionate' that country that har given the world more sleepless nights.

Can't you be objective for once?

PhockPhockMan:
Can't you be objective for once?

oaf, have u ever been objective?

MrBigPrick:
Keshi should take it easy and get himself another job.
What if an American club want to hire him nko? He better not spoil his own market O.


-MrBigPrick

Keshi simply said what many of us have been yelling with our tiny voices:
Why should our American partners in the fight against terrorism be talking about human right abuses by Nigerian soldiers as they fight BH, instead of talking about the atrocities committed by BH against ordinary Nigerians in churches, their homes, schools, etc.
Anybody watching this presentation would see that from US, South Africa, and to lesser extent UK, the opposition APC have rounded up up the news outlets in their favor, and to the detriment of Nigeria as a country.