Smart move from Nigeria.

NPComplete:


I think the non aligned diplomacy is why we abstained and decided not to take sides

That ended with the cold war because they don't want to upset the Americans or antagonize the Soviet union that backed them to the heels against Biafra.
It was the non alignment nonsense that prolonged apartheid.

When has Arab agenda been our priority?

What has Arab relations bennefited us?

Slavery.

The awful truth is that Arabs ravaged Africa for almost a thousand years before Europeans ever began to export black slaves.  In fact, it was the foundation of slave procurement and trading established by the Muslims (usually through Jihad) that enabled the European practice.

Far more Africans were swallowed up in the fourteen hundred years of Islamic slave trading than in the three centuries of European practice.  An estimated 17 to 20 million Africans were exported from their native land to the Muslim world, but this isn't the whole story.  With a transport survival rate of less than 1 in 3, Dr. John Alembellah Azumah estimates that perhaps 50 to 80 million more died in route.

Here is a quote from an observer in Zanzibar that sheds light on the harsh conditions of Islamic slavery:

"As they filed past, we noticed many chained together by the neck... The women, who were as numerous as the men, carried babies on their backs in addition to a tusk of ivory or other burden on their heads... It is difficult to adequately describe the filthy state of their bodies; in many instances not only scarred by [the whip], but feet and shoulders were a mass of open sores... half-starved ill-treated creatures who, weary and friendless must have longed for death."

The text (quoted from Dr. Azumah's The Legacy of Arab-Islam in Africa) goes on to describe the fate of those who became too ill or too weak to continue the journey - as related by a Muslim "herdsman":

"Spear them at once!  For, if we did not, others would pretend they are ill in order to avoid carrying their loads.  No!  We never leave them alive on the road; they all know this custom." 

When asked who carries the ivory when a mother gets too tired to carry both her baby and the ivory, the herdsman replied, "She does!  We cannot leave valuable ivory on the road.  We spear the child and make her burden lighter."

After Muhammad's companions overthrew the Christians in Egypt shortly after his death, they began demanding slaves from the Nubians to the south.  For over 600 years, the black African kingdom was forced to send a tribute of slaves to Cairo on a regular basis.

Although the Qur'an does not distinguish between races, there is a strong legacy of racism against people of African descent in early Islam.

According to the Quran itself, blackness is a product of being too close to where the sun sets and rises (Muhammad thought that the earth flat and the Africans lived along the edge).  Islamic scholar Ibn Qutaybah described black people as "ugly and misshapen because they live in a hot country where the heat overcooks them in the womb and curls their hair."

Again quoting from The Legacy of Arab-Islam in Africa, Dr. Azumah provides several examples of Islam's early attitude toward blackness:

The hadith in which an Ethiopian woman laments her racial inferiority to Muhammad, who consoles her by saying, "In Paradise, the whiteness of the Ethiopian will be seen over the stretch of a thousand years."
 

The Muslim Arab and Persian literature which depicts blacks as "silly, untruthful, vicious, sexually unbridled, ugly and distorted, excessively merry and easily affected by music and drink."
 

Nasir al-Din Tusi, the famous Muslim scholar said of blacks: "The ape is more capable of being trained than the Negro."
 

Ibn Khaldun, an early Muslim thinker, writes that blacks are  "only humans who are closer to dumb animals than to rational beings."  He also insisted that "the only people who accept slavery are the Negroes, owing to their low degree of humanity and proximity to the animal stage."  (In truth, over 500,000 Africans in Basra overthrew their Arab-Islamic masters in the largest slave uprising in history in what is known as the Zanj Rebellion).  
 

Classical Islamic law allows a light-skinned Muslim man to marry a black woman, but a black Muslim man is restricted from marrying a light-skinned woman.  As the literature of the time put it, "only a LovePeddler prefers blacks; the good woman will welcome death rather than being touched by a black man."
 

Another hadith quotes Muhammad: "Do not bring black into your pedigree."

The famous Muslim historian, al-Mas'udi describes the African slaves as, "Kinky hair, thin eyebrows, broad noses, thick lips, sharp teeth, malodorous skin, dark pupils, clefty hands and feet, elongated manlinesses and excessive merriment."  He goes on to add that the "the dark complexion person (al-aswad) is overwhelmed by merriment due to the imperfection (fasad) of his brain; therefore, his intellect is weak."  (Akbar Muhammad, Slaves and Slavery in Muslim Africa, vol. I, p 68)

In fact, the original Arabic word for slave, "Abd," evolved into the the colloquial word for a black person after the establishment of Islam. 

The international platform is a place to be diplomatic,you will be a bad diplomat is you are a fanatic.

Eziachi:
You chose to refer yourself as giant of Africa. Abstaining is not a mark of being a giant but weakness and cowardice. Have you heared about that one that sit on the fence? Who takes him serious?
A giant does what he feel is right and will be willing to face the consequences. If you agree with Israel and the U.S that Palestine does not merit a statehood, then show your support or vote against it you disagree. What is PDP/ current government policy on this issue? Was it siddon and no action?

Abstaining from any position in a world affairs shows lack of any coherent foreign policy. How do you expect Iran and Saudi Arabia to help you at OPEC level where you needed more than Israel and U.S to cut their production quota that will help stabilize the world crude prices.
U.S refused you arms that you needed and when you got an opportunity to reply, you chickens out by Abstaining. That's not smart.

It is not even only about abstaining, it's about promising from the get-go to add the one needed vote to the equation, only for them to change at the last minute. Hence the backlash. That's just betrayal and international policy failure. At least, the intentions of the rest were known from the beginning. And if they had known Nigeria would abstain - I doubt they would've drafted the bill in the first place. GEJ just nuked the image of the country, and Nigeria will never be trusted again. Reliability is important.

This also isn't about supporting Arabs or Muslims, it's about following through with your word/promise. And since a country like Nigeria isn't that strong on the international scene, it will always need other people's support - this is going to destroy all that. Why did they even give Nigeria a seat at the UN in the first place? - they should've given that seat to either South Africa, Angola, or Ethiopia. Heck, even Ghana would've done a better job.

noblezone:


Mr. President did the best for Ngieria.
Nigeria is occupying Biafra!

She should remain neutral in matters like this.

If you vote in favour , problem!
You vote against, problem!

You remain neutral, still problem?

Best for Nigeria, by letting what's none of ya business crash on ya head, after promising to vote for it before it was drafted?

Why promise something you can't deliver?

God is the Master Planner and to Him be the Glory to foil a gangup.

NgeneUkwenu:


Brownfool, always as senseless as his comments! Tout Benin, stay off my mention.

You have made no point here, all I see is vulgarity at its peak. The person whom you responded to, on the other hand, made a whole lot of sense in his argument, though the name calling was unnecessary.

SirShymex:


It is not even only about abstaining, it's about promising from the get-go to add the one needed vote to the equation, only for them to change at the last minute. Hence the backlash. That's just betrayal and international policy failure. At least, the intentions of the rest were known from the beginning. And if they had known Nigeria would abstain - I doubt they would've drafted the bill in the first place. GEJ just nuked the image of the country, and Nigeria will never be trusted again. Reliability is important.

This also isn't about supporting Arabs or Muslims, it's about following through with your word/promise. And since a country like Nigeria isn't that strong on the international scene, it will always need other people's support - this is going to destroy all that. Why did they even give Nigeria a seat at the UN in the first place? - they should've given that seat to either South Africa, Angola, or Ethiopia. Heck, even Ghana would've done a better job.

Abeg carry your arab fan club some place else...

What has the conflict got to do with us?

Nigeria was right to abstain.

Before you climb that moral high horse, what will you say of past successive Nigerian head's of states that supported decades of genocide by Sudannese Arab muslims on the black southern Christians?

Shagari even gave the Arab aggressors that were displaced in Darfur special refugee status. Their settlement camp was in Surulere. Those Arab Sudannese that you see loittering and begging on the streets of Lagos were brought in by Shagari. Why did Shagari or the successive northern Muslim head of states not extend hosting gestures to the black Sudannese?

Some of you people have no single intelligence at all.

We should not have abstained from the vote, Nigeria should have voted against it. To hell with Arabs and their agenda.

WombRaiders:

Abeg carry your arab fan club some place else...

What has the conflict got to do with us?

Nigeria was right to abstain.

Before you climb that moral high horse, what will you say of past successive Nigerian head's of states that supported decades of genocide by Sudannese Arab muslims on the black southern Christians?

Shagari even gave the Arab aggressors that weredisplaced in Darfurspecial refugee status. Those Arab Sudannese that you see loittering and begging on the streets of Lagos were brought in by Shagari. Why did Shagari or the successive northern Muslim head of states not extend hosting gestures to the black Sudannese?

Some of you people have no single intelligence at all.

Fvcking stark illiterate, everything isn't about religion - it's about playing smart, and not getting yourself involved in something you have no business with. In international diplomacy, you don't promise something you can't deliver. Reliability is always the key.

If Nigeria wanted to abstain, it should've don't that from the get-go. And I believe those who drafted the bill would've looked elsewhere, or probably used the UN assembly to get something. This was a trap for the US, but Nigeria decided to get itself entangled in the next man's issue.

As for the rest of ya rant - it's none of my business. Go discuss that in ya village square.

[quote
author=pendy79 post=29366175]The Nation has further been thrown into a
diplomatic quagmire and a total orphan in the international circles.

If jonaTAN thinks him backing Isreal would make the US pander up to him
then he is worst than the clueless that we called him.

The US knew the Palestinian State is long overdue and if it uses it VETO
to stop the resolution then it will be drawn into a long battle with
its MiddleEast interest hence it needs a foolish and gullible state like
Nigeria to do its dirty work.

We have been a Nation that fought Apartheid and racial Discrimination in
south Africa and Zimbabwe's Independence and joined up with the UN
General Assembly to vote in support of UN resoulutions against Isreal's
continuous colonization of Palestine. we are members of the Non Aligned
Movement to show our neutrality between the WEST and RUSSIA during the
era of COLD WAR.

Why the sudden change in Foreign Policy when few weeks ago we were
involved in Diplomatic issues with the same USA over Military arms
purchase and even called off a Training programme for our Military
Personnel with them, yet we are quick to do their dirty work for them in
the UN Security Council.

I pray this doesn't turn around to haunt Nigeria as a country because
the USA has gotten what it needed from us and yet wont change it foreign
policy towards Nigeria yet other Non Aligned Nations will see Nigeria
as a sell out who chickened out on a course it has supported for over
50years on the prompting a superpower that detests it.

Same US stops abruptly it purchase of our crude making us sell our crude
on credit and at cheap prices yet GEJ is azzlicking and
merry-go-rounding it just to score cheap political gain from them to
ease the country seemingly disdain for his Government.

This is a new low for Nigeria and its International Affairs [/quote]

all these for what
some will think you sincerely care about nigerias foreign policy...but i see only an agent of buhari trying to paint gej red inorder to weep up sentiment esp from the gullible...
ok...may be i guess....since usa couldnt help us....palestinians would
guy try something else

This is the trap right here:

Palestinian officials had long believed the resolution was likely to be defeated by a US veto but had hoped to secure the nine votes to highlight what they argue is Washington’s partisan advocacy on behalf of Israel in the Middle East peace process.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/31/us-israel-un-reject-palestinian-resolution-nigeria-security-council

US' problem - why get yourself involved with that?

SirShymex:


Fvcking stark illiterate, everything isn't about religion - it's about playing smart, and not getting yourself involved in something you have no business with. In international diplomacy, you don't promise something you can't deliver. Reliability is always the key.

If Nigeria wanted to abstain, it should've don't that from the get-go. And I believe those who drafted the bill would've looked elsewhere, or probably used the UN assembly to get something. This was a trap for the US, but Nigeria decided to get itself entangled in the next man's issue.

As for the rest of ya rant - it's none of my business. Go discuss that in ya village square.

Subway staff sir Shiite mess I have already stated that whoever is paying for your education is wasting their money

MudRaker:
[size=18pt]Israeli Nigeria Relationship at a all time high[/size]



Muslims consider Isreal a rogue state over the Palestine issue that is far and removed from them.

The Arab league had relied on Nigeria's weight in dealing against Isreal in the UN but for some reason our northern Muslim brothers turned a blind eye on systematic genocide on their fellow black Africans in Sudan.

Those Arab Sudanese beggars you see on the streets of Lagos were admitted into Nigeria during the Shagari regime. These Arabs were portrayed as those suffering at the hands of the southern Christians in Sudan which is totally not the case as we have seen in Darfur and the menacing Janjawiids militia.

Today the President of Sudan has been indicted for war crimes but Sudan still operates 2 emissaries in Nigeria- one for the central Govt located in Abuja and another in Kano for the muslim caliphate.

If you think religion is not at the heart of Nigeria's internal politics and middle east and Arab diplomacy then you need to wake up.

.

MudRaker:
A caricatured picture of Jonathan kneeling down in Church complete with mocking text is circulated in social media by no other person than a prominent opposition figure. The joke if any was gleefully shared and retwitted among mainly northern Muslims who delighted at El Rufai's vulgar and distasteful attempt at making a joke. The backlash to this were not as the case would have been if it were a Muslim President praying in a mosque but was limited to verbal condemnation only.

Now the issue at hand is that we have had more Muslim presidents and who were exclusively from the north being pictured or televised worshiping in the mosque but no single critism from Christians was ever heard.

[img]http://3.bp..com/_AF229DcNgNI/SrduVYB0dZI/AAAAAAAAAFo/KQzEM9x064E/s320/prayer+2.jpg[/img]

Another disturbing fact is how so many northerners and prominent opposition figures view Jonathan's church going as being sectarian in nature even though past Muslim leaders were free to worship openly for some reason a Christian President kneeling down worshiping in church is seen as sectarian. Even though this administration has not introduced any discriminatory policy or sidelined the Muslim community they still accuse him of being sectarian because he openly practiced his religion freely as enshrined in the constitution.

Speaking of constitutions, Nigeria is the only Nation that operates two sets of laws; the constitution of the Federal Republlc and that of the Islamic legal code, Sharia. If this is not sectarian then I don't know what to call it.

The northern leaders did not consider other minority religions when they enacted Sharia law and the fallout riots that engulfed their region.. Even Boko Haram are fighting to forcefully impose Sharia law over the polity but to them this is not the issue but the fact that President Jonathan knelt down to worship in Church is unbecoming.

Jonathan is also accused of being to open with his religion by going on pilgrimage to Israel. The same thing every single Muslim ex president and Governor, and former government officials like El Rufai are guilty of complete with full government subsidy.

But by far the most annoying thing about Jonathn's govt is that this is the first head of state to have any direct dealing with Isreal.
To the north Isreal is an enemy. Why? Because their Arab lords are currently at war with Isreal. Jonathan's friendship with Isreal is causing a diplomatic row between Nigeria and Arab countries like Saudi Arabi who traditionally relied on our support on the Palestinian cause than with that of the zionists.

According to the Muslim north, a relationship to Isreal is an embarrassment to them as Muslims. Consider this for a second. Saudi Arabia that they desperately want to keep as our friends will not admitt half of our population into their country based on the fact that they are not Muslims. This same Saudi has nothing to offer us or the rest of the world other than oil which we have as well but a nation like Isreal with the highest noble peace prize in all disciplines is to be considered an enemy.

The fact remains that the north for all her accusations on Jonathan being sectarian reminds me of the proverb of picking specks from another man's eyes when one has a log firmly wedged in his.

Hypocrites.

Mumu ode claiming scholar when you are guided by base religious sentiments.

Now Gtfo.

[s]

WombRaiders:


Subway staff sir Shiite mess I have already stated that whoever is paying for your education is wasting their money

Mumu ode claiming scholar when you are guided by base religious sentiments.

Now Gtfo.

[/s]

Lmao. You, your mum, and pops combined aren't even qualified to wipe my bum, hut-dwelling sycophantic pseud. Earn you meagre political jobbing wages next time without quoting my posts, you crumb munching weasel with whiskers like a rat.

Fvck off, and go raid the tomb, useless scrounging scavenger.

And don't quote me back, prick.

SirShymex:
[s][/s]

Lmao. You, your mum, and pops combined aren't even qualified to wipe my bum, hut-dwelling sycophantic pseud. Earn you meagre political jobbing wages next time without quoting my posts, you crumb munching weasel with whiskers like a rat.

Fvck off, and go raid the tomb, useless scrounging scavenger.

And don't quote me back, prick.

Peckham tout. From mushin to London dish washing kitchens.

WombRaiders:


Peckham tout. From mushin to London dish washing kitchens.

Bwahahahaha

Same come back, different handle. Is that the only thing in ya vocab, you primeval hut dwelling peasant. Even in Nigeria, I'll pee in ya nostrils, and get the feds out there to break ya neck for free. We're not in the same social/academic class, and will never be.

Earn ya crumbs and stay off my post, scavenging tomb raider.

SirShymex:


Bwahahahaha

Same come back, different handle. Is that the only thing in ya vocab, you primeval hut dwelling peasant. Even in Nigeria, I'll pee in ya nostrils, and get the feds out there to break ya neck for free. We're not in the same social/academic class, and will never be.

Earn ya crumbs and stay off my post, scavenging tomb raider.

It's womb raiders ash0le and I am on the verge of inventing a time machine where I hope to go back in time and find your mother when she was 9 months heavy with your dead weight. I will force her to drink bleach, then proceed to kick her down a flight of steps to which I will stomp the bastard you out of her womb.

Am not suprised anyway.

WombRaiders:


Shameless people these APC shills are.





I guess Obama your Muslim shill and advocate and sponsorer of ISIS, Al Qaeda and Boko Haram is also a Jew

You this osogbo tout don't delve into matters that are beyond your comprehension. Stick to your tribal skirmishes and leave Israel and the Jews from your agenda.

Now Jonathan is not only clueless but he is also has a christianization agenda?

What in God's name is Aregberascal piping into osogbo water works?

Haha why nw no be all of us for osun get already drained brain

U knw they just have to hate on him Even when he has done the best thing

U knw if itz great grand pa GMB we know whom he will vote for
Jonathan has done the best sitting on the fence is the best at times... Let them solve their problems

We have ours

WombRaiders:


It's womb raiders ash0le and I am on the verge of inventing a time machine where I hope to go back in time and find your mother when she was 9 months heavy with your dead weight. I will force her to drink bleach, then proceed to kick her down a flight of steps to which I will stomp the bastard you out of her womb.

Bwahahahaha

You're a tomb raider, the "womb" was induced by dyslexia and it's evident in ya posts, you despicable cannibal.

Fvck out my face, it's the Crossing Over day, no time for negative energy and time wasting nonsense with a hopeless loser and a perpetual failure in life. Stick to munching crumbs, and leave topics like this one, to those who're literate enough to understand what's at stake.

Sod off - out!

FrankC3:


Do you even understand the non-alligned foreign policy position of Nigeria? For years, Nigeria has maintained good relationship between Isreal and Palestine as a result of this policy. Even at the height of India Pakistan palavar, Nigeria was friends with both countries. That is what non-alligned policy really means and it takes tack and diplomacy for our leaders to navigate this tight rope. We abstained from voting, as always, thereby keeping our heads up.

People should understand that there is no morality in international relations, what exists at UN table is interests. Using every opportunity for the interest of your people. And you can see how world leaders were reaching out to Nigeria to take a position on this issue, yet we remained strong and committed to our own foreign policy. That is what purposeful leadership does.

I know that a Buhari would have been angry with the Isrealis and betrayed our foreign policy position that has survived for years. You can hear his position being echoed by his supporters here. One question for them is, if GEJ votes in favor of this resolution, what is in it for Nigeria? Will Palestan buy our crude or will they help us fight Boko Haram? You see how emotional APC supporters and Buhari are and how they will ruin our foreign policy if elected?

6,788,912.34k likes for u bro u understand the dirty game....some people dont even realize the amount of lobbying it took before we decided to abstain..our interests first..what more it shows that we still have a very strong global influence regardless of our challenges and what the opposers of Nigeria will tell u as a rhetoric.......if u decided 2 vote for it...we would have set the US on a coalition course with the middle east.i would have loved to see that happen but the time isnt ripe yet so we took the very correct decision.....this however shows that if u need nigerias help u have to lobby nigeria

Nigeria stopped the course of the Palestinians. Not because it voted No (becos it didn't), nor becos it abstained (other countries also did) but because it promised to vote yes, when it knows it would abstain. One rule of international diplomacy is that you do not put a resolution into a vote, unless you are sure it would pass the vote.

When there is a doubt, you negotiate your position until you reach a common ground where you are sure you have enough vote to pass. Sometimes that require you to reduce or modify your demands / position.

Nigeria stopped the progress of the Palestinians because they promised to vote yes. US and Australia did not, neither did UK or South Korea, but Nigeria did. Nigeria deceived the Palestinians. Not the US or other countries that voted No or abstained.

Today Nigeria is not only against Palestinians, but untrusted by US, Australia, South Korea and the rest of the world.

NPComplete:


I think the non aligned diplomacy is why we abstained and decided not to take sides

Our took a non aligned posture only during the cold war between russia and the west.

NgeneUkwenu:
As a religious fanatic who hates anything Islam, he believes Israel is a Christian State while Palestine is a Muslim State!

SayNoTo Christianization of Nigeria


#TeamChange!

I must say that your display of ignorance is very appalling. Try to reconcile with historic facts before making a fool out of yourself in a public arena.

fedesng:
Nigeria stopped the course of the Palestinians. Not because it voted No (becos it didn't), nor becos it abstained (other countries also did) but because it promised to vote yes, when it knows it would abstain. One rule of international diplomacy is that you do not put a resolution into a vote, unless you are sure it would pass the vote.

When there is a doubt, you negotiate your position until you reach a common ground where you are sure you have enough vote to pass. Sometimes that require you to reduce or modify your demands / position.

Nigeria stopped the progress of the Palestinians because they promised to vote yes. US and Australia did not, neither did UK or South Korea, but Nigeria did. Nigeria deceived the Palestinians. Not the US or other countries that voted No or abstained.

Today Nigeria is not only against Palestinians, but untrusted by US, Australia, South Korea and the rest of the world.

U shaq liquor?
ogbeni u dey para

I repeat jonathan is an unrepentant liar, how would anybody any decent individual who calls himself a leader of country promise to vote yes to an oppressed people only to make a u turn 45 minutes to the vote? Why the deceit?

Ngwakwe hide this comment join, tommorrow with hypocrisy you will call muslims intolerant or Buhari not respecting freedom of expression when u cannot even tolerate other people's opinion

vedaxcool:

Ngwakwe hide this comment join, tomorrow with hypocrisy you will call muslims intolerant or Buhari not respecting freedom of expression when u cannot even tolerate other people's opinion

Can't you make your comment without tagging Ngwakwe?

Why do you find pleasure in insulting Nairalanders just to display how intolerable you are to people's contrary opinion.

I wouldn't give you more grace to insult Nairalanders henceforth

NB: this subsequent comment isn't the same with the comment that was hidden

If you care to know check my signature. I stand by it, anytime, any day.

NgeneUkwenu:


Rubbish! He miscalculated! 2015 was on his mind when he abstained!

Keep quiet kid!!!!! So he should have voted for Palestine state instead of being neutral?

vedaxcool:
I repeat jonathan is an unrepentant liar, how would anybody any decent individual who calls himself a leader of country promise to vote yes to an oppressed people only to make a u turn 45 minutes to the vote? Why the deceit?

Ngwakwe hide this comment join, tommorrow with hypocrisy you will call muslims intolerant or Buhari not respecting freedom of expression when u cannot even tolerate other people's opinion

Shut up! Did Nigeria vote? Do not let your hatred for gen kill you.
Nigeria did not, she was neutral. Dig it?

NgeneUkwenu:
As a religious fanatic who hates anything Islam, he believes Israel is a Christian State while Palestine is a Muslim State!

SayNoTo Christianization of Nigeria


#TeamChange!

Well said...