Fri, 27/04/2012 - 7:04pm | OUR CORRESPODENT News Politics



Gov. Adams Oshiomhole of Edo has expressed his dismay over the decision of a U.S. delegation to abort its trip to the South-South Economic summit, due to what the delegation perceived as the insecurity in the Niger Delta.

Oshiomhole made the expression in Asaba on Friday after it was announced at the summit that members of the American delegation who had already arrived in Abuja had to fly back home, based on a U.S. Embassy travel advisory.

Rudy Giuliani, a former New York Mayor and Adm. Mike Mullen, former Chairman, U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, reportedly aborted their mission after being advised to do so by the embassy.

Both men, billed to speak at the summit, which began in Asaba on April 26, were said to have arrived in Abuja but boarded the next flight back to the U.S., citing intelligence report on the retreat.

Mr Nduka Obaigbena, the Chairman of Leaders and Company, Publishers of Thisday Newspapers, who is also Chairman of the Organising Committee of the summit, was the first to announce the development during proceedings at the forum on Friday in Asaba.

Obaigbena said that the two Americans were on arrival at Abuja, en route Asaba, advised by security officials at the U.S. embassy not to travel to the Delta State capital.

The U.S. embassy officials cited insecurity in the state as the reason for their travel advisory.

But in his reaction, Oshiomhole condemned the decision of the Americans to return home, describing the action as “unfortunate. ”

He wondered how U.S. citizens and other foreigners could have been feeling safe in the bushes and creeks in the Niger Delta, “drilling and exportation our oil but one or two of them felt unsafe to travel to a city in the region.

“If security is too bad in Nigeria to make the U.S. to advise its citizens against visiting parts of the country, why have their companies not packed out of the country?

``It is because the money they are making from oil cancels out the seeming security challenges they appear to be facing in the country that they have refused to leave,’’ the governor stated.

Also reacting, the National Security Adviser, retired Gen. Andrew Azazi, said that the fears expressed by the U.S. officials might not be unconnected with the bomb blast at newspaper houses in Abuja and Kaduna.

The NSA, who spoke while addressing issues of security at the summit, said that the military would continue to take part in ``policing’’ the country until the police were properly trained.

He said that Nigeria was second only to Somalia on the issue of insecurity on the waterways, adding that pirates were on the prowl and endangering maritime businesses in both nations.

The NSA disclosed that security challenges, especially terrorism in the country, would remain with Nigeria for some time before proper solution could be found.

He explained that getting to the root of problems often took time and took even longer time to fix, noting that Boko Haram and other security challenges would take a long while to be sorted out.

Azazi said that current security problems started brewing a long time ago but regretted that “authorities in government did nothing about the problems’’.

He recalled that Boko Haram started grouping about 20 years ago in Maiduguri but with a different concept and name at that time.

Azazi alleged that persons involved in the Boko Haram insurgency were highly educated and influential, saying that problems associated with terrorism as being unleashed on Nigerians, were sophisticated and beyond comprehension of most Nigerians.

He said that all security issues were related but were surmountable and could be addressed comprehensively to enable enduring goal to be achieved, tracing most of the security challenges in the country to politicians, whom he accused of politicising every issue they perceived as unfavourable to them.

The NSA blamed the PDP and its members in this regard, recalling that the party stirred much trouble in the country when it attempted to force its rules on zoning of the presidency on Nigerians.

“They even tried to make the party’s rules to supersede the Constitution of the country,” he said.

Azazi said that subsisting crisis and violence in parts of the country started after President Goodluck Jonathan had declared his intention to contest the 2011 presidential election.

He, however, disclosed that his office had started developing a comprehensive counter-terrorism strategy as part of measures to tackle the problem, saying that the blueprint had been sent to relevant organisations for their inputs.


http://leadership.ng/nga/articles/23125/2012/04/27/oshiomhole_flays_us_delegation_aborting_nigeria_trip_over_insecurity.html

ekt_bear: Fri, 27/04/2012 - 7:04pm | OUR CORRESPODENT News Politics




T[b]he NSA blamed the PDP and its members in this regard, recalling that the party stirred much trouble in the country when it attempted to force its rules on zoning of the presidency on Nigerians.[/b]

“They even tried to make the party’s rules to supersede the Constitution of the country,” he said.

Azazi said that subsisting crisis and violence in parts of the country started after President Goodluck Jonathan had declared his intention to contest the 2011 presidential election.

He, however, disclosed that his office had started developing a comprehensive counter-terrorism strategy as part of measures to tackle the problem, saying that the blueprint had been sent to relevant organisations for their inputs.


http://leadership.ng/nga/articles/23125/2012/04/27/oshiomhole_flays_us_delegation_aborting_nigeria_trip_over_insecurity.html

Looool. If I was GEJ I 'd be very worried. . . . race against time, buddy.

I've said it time and again, once the Army finds a fellow Ijaw to read the take over speech after the martial music hits its final notes, its over for GEJ and band of 11 fin*gered thieves.

It happened when Politicians were similarly irresponsible in '66 and '83/84 so what makes 2012 (or whenever) any different?

In my own opinion sha, the sooner the better because Nigerians can't keep suffering for nothing.

I find it kind of amazing that Rudy G and co traveled all the way to Abuja, then turned back. How unfortunate.

Oshiomhole has a point I suppose, but on the other hand you cannot blame them for heeding the words of their government (the travel advisory.)

ekt_bear: The U.S. embassy officials cited insecurity in the state as the reason for their travel advisory.

But in his reaction, Oshiomhole condemned the decision of the Americans to return home, describing the action as “unfortunate. ”

He wondered how U.S. citizens and other foreigners could have been feeling safe in the bushes and creeks in the Niger Delta, “drilling and exportation our oil but one or two of them felt unsafe to travel to a city in the region.

How does he know they feel safe? Nigerians who have lived in Nigeria all their lives don't even FEEL SAFE . . . na foreigners im go conclude FEEL SAFE? Abeg, make the man go do the job wey dem hire am do o'jare!!! .

Of course you can make anyone confess to feeling 'safe' if you pay am 10 times, or even more than what im suppose worth elsewhere. How safe did the foreigners who were abducted last year, and then reported killed earlier in the year feel? How safe did the hundreds of Nigerians who have had their lives cut short by terrorists who are allowed to roam free feel when they were blown to bits? safe indeed! How safe did the 10 people who were blown to bits at their regular work place, this week?

ekt_bear:
“If security is too bad in Nigeria to make the U.S. to advise its citizens against visiting parts of the country, why have their companies not packed out of the country?

``It is because the money they are making from oil cancels out the seeming security challenges they appear to be facing in the country that they have refused to leave,’’ the governor stated.

The U.S already warns its citizens. However, U.S does not bar it's citizens from going to Nigeria. Abeg, Kwashiokor mouth, do your freaking job well, and then you will not have to tell people to feel safe . . . they will know it when it exists.

Most of our administrators are really insulated from reality - it is only a matter of degrees in how insular they are.

GEJ is watching HIS country tear to pieces while being deceived by synchophants - they seem better at bringing calm to other countries than their own.

There is only one reason for this sad situation of our affairs - political and monetary corruption!!!

Kobojunkie:

How does he know they feel safe? Nigerians who have lived in Nigeria all their lives don't even FEEL SAFE . . . na foreigners im go conclude FEEL SAFE? Abeg, make the man go do the job wey dem hire am do o'jare!!! .

Of course you can make anyone confess to feeling 'safe' if you pay am 10 times, or even more than what im suppose worth elsewhere. How safe did the foreigners who were abducted last year, and then reported killed earlier in the year feel? How safe did the hundreds of Nigerians who have had their lives cut short by terrorists who are allowed to roam free feel when they were blown to bits? safe indeed! How safe did the 10 people who were blown to bits at their regular work place, this week?



The U.S already warns its citizens. However, U.S does not bar it's citizens from going to Nigeria. Abeg, Kwashiokor mouth, do your freaking job well, and then you will not have to tell people to feel safe . . . they will know it when it exists.

Given their background and history, Mullen and Giuliani are prime targets for any religious terrorist trying to go out in a blaze of glory. Can't blame them for being extra careful.

Especially in a Country like ours where It's hard to separate religious Boko Haram from Political Boko Haram, better not to put yourself in a position where you are used as a pawn in a game of violent intrigues.

A group that bombed two offices of the chairman of an event on the eve of that event can't be clearer about their intentions.

Nigeria is essentially at war.

I understand why Oshiomhole would be disappointed, but the move actually makes sense. Boko did threaten to directly bomb somewhere in the "south south" and they aren't afraid of attacking anywhere (schools, newspaper companies, embassies etc.). The Nigerian government is not handling the situation adequately, making the situation worse.

Kobojunkie:

How does he know they feel safe? Nigerians who have lived in Nigeria all their lives don't even FEEL SAFE . . .

How do you know? Have you lived in Nigeria all your life to know those class of Nigerians don't feel safe? abi which study did you commission to come up with the above statement? If you must talk you no go talk wetin you know?

wesley80:

How do you know? Have you lived in Nigeria all your life to know those class of Nigerians don't feel safe? abi which study did you commission to come up with the above statement? If you must talk you no go talk wetin you know?

Though i do disagree sometimes with the sentiments expressed by Kobojunkie but on the issue of safety today in Nigeria, i overwhemly agree with her. To be very candid, the prevailing state of sheer hopeless insecurity has induced the worst form of FEAR. I don't know about you, but am genuinely WORRIED.

livapul86:
I don't know about you, but am genuinely WORRIED.

"WORRIED" you said.

wesley80:

"WORRIED" you said.

Sounds like an understatement?

^ Worry is when my GF doesn't call me all day, fear is when a gun is pointed at me head.