[size=14pt]Spain denies Ondo govt officials visas[/size]
News Sunday, November 28, 2010


By Dayo Johnson

AKURE-ONDO State Government yesterday expressed dismay over the refusal of entry Visas to Madrid by the Spanish Embassy in Nigeria to its officials.





http://odili.net/news/source/2010/nov/28/302.html

Some government officials of the State Government were expected to accompany an 11-year old winner of the 2009 MARE International Mountain Climbing Expedition, Master Akinwunmi Sunday Edward to Spain.

Those billed to travel with the boy included the State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr Tola Wewe, Chief Press Secretary to Ondo State Governor, Mr. Olabisi Kolawole Edwards, Chairman, Idanre Local Government Area, Mr. Sunday Taiwo Ayodele.

In requesting for the entry Visas for the boy and those who were to accompany him, the State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko had directed the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Aderotimi Adelola, to write to the Consular General of the Spanish Embassy intimating him with the intention for the trip.

A statement by Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Kolawole Olabisi said this was to enable the State Government to redeem its pledge to sponsor Akinwunmi to a country where there is mountain climbing.

The team had on November 10, gone to the Embassy and submitted their papers, paid all the required fees and were asked to come back on Tuesday, November 23, only to be refused entry visas.

The Information Commissioner Ranti Akerele in Akure regretted the development, insisting that the refusal of the request for entry permit was a rude shock and a setback for "2010 MARE Expedition".

According to him, this was despite the media blight already given to the intended trip of the Young lad to Spain.

This, he noted, had been widely reported by both the Electronics and Print Media world wide and after following due process, the Spanish Consular could refuse them entry visas on the flimsy excuse that they may not be returning back to Nigeria and that they appear not to have sufficient means of subsistence if allowed to enter Madrid, their destination in Spain.

"In our opinion, this is a mundane, lame, absurd and laughable excuse adduced by the Spanish Embassy that officials of a State Government who, the State had expressly stated in its letter that it would be sponsoring would either bolt away or have no means of sponsoring their trip!

"Again, it is an affront to aver that these State officials who have subsisting and valid Visas to other very advanced nations and who have equally travelled to several countries and have returned home would now abscond in Madrid!

This, is no doubt, unacceptable and definitely not a nice way to carry out bilateral relation between two sovereign nations and we take serious exceptions to this. We are hoping the Consular General of Spain in Nigeria would make amends for this error of judgment made by his officials as we want to believe that he was not aware of this slight of sort on the integrity of Ondo State and by extension, our great nation, Nigeria in the interest of our two nations and in conformity with our fundamental human rights as expressly stated and sanctions by several statutes internationally,

Why would they not return, when plenty money de for Naija, 1 athlete, 14 officials

Wetin dem dey go do for Spain?

10 officials want to accompany 10 year old boy to irrelevant mountain climbing competition and the state Governor is writing about it.

Nigerian leaders are Baboons.

Ibime:

10 officials want to accompany 10 year old boy to irrelevant mountain climbing competition and the state Governor is writing about it.

Nigerian leaders are Baboons.

Roflmao

They didn't even invite the boy's parents, they should be denied second time around selfish people!

Dis Guy:

They didn't even invite the boys parents, they should be denied second time around selfish people!

Wetin his parents dey go Spain do when dem never go common Akure before?

In requesting for the entry Visas for the boy and those who were to accompany him, the State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko had directed the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Aderotimi Adelola, to write to the Consular General of the Spanish Embassy intimating him with the intention for the trip

The gov too na mumu if he allowed this kin trip in the first place.

Aloy_Emeka:

Wetin his parents dey go Spain do when dem never go common Akure before?

The boy is 11 years old!! I don't think any responsible parent should leave the child in care of nigerian government official who will end up gawking at señoritas instead of looking after the child

Dis Guy:

The boy is 11 years old!! I don't think any responsible parent should leave the child in care of nigerian government official who will end up gawking at señoritas instead of looking after the child

True.

Ibime:

10 officials want to accompany 10 year old boy to irrelevant mountain climbing competition and the state Governor is writing about it.

Nigerian leaders are Baboons.

More like morons.
Well, as they see us, so shall they treat us.

Is this not the new governor - awoof don start - as mentioned 1 athelete 11 Officals and all of them go collect allowance - All this politicians are the same and are crooks

Compare this to GEJ's entourage to Canada for the G-15 summit earlier in the year! They are all a big bunch of idiots.

Irrelevant mountain climbing, wen mountain boku for abuja and enviroment awaiting ,anyway if muhamed no go after mountain, mountain will come look for muhamed.
Dont know y they r surprised at the refusal though