₦airaland Forum

BY: VICTORIA OJEME
ABUJA – The United States of America, USA, the
United kingdom, UK, and the European Union, EU,
yesterday condemned the statement credited to
Kastina State Governor, Alh. Ibrahim Shehu
Shema, purportedly calling for the killing of the
“cockroaches of politics”.
The US and UK issued separate statements, while
the EU Ambassador to Nigeria Mr. Michel Arrion
spoke in Abuja.
The United States of America, in an unusually long
statement said it was deeply troubled by Shema’s
comments which it said “undermines” the nation’s
democratic process.
It said, “the rhetorical threat of violence
undermines the democratic process and is utterly
unacceptable in a democratic society.
“We are deeply troubled by Governor Ibrahim
Shehu Shema of Katsina State’s recent statements
calling for the killing of the ‘cockroaches of
politics.’ The United States reiterates its call upon
all Nigerians to refrain from advocating, fomenting,
or condoning violence before, during, or after the
elections”.
The US lectured Shema on the provisions of the
Nigerian constitution saying, “The Nigerian
Constitution itself states it is the duty of every
citizen to ‘respect the dignity of other citizens and
the rights and legitimate interests of citizens to live
in unity and harmony.’ Language that threatens or
incites violence short-circuits the democratic
process.
“All Nigerians must be free to voice their opinions
and participate in the electoral process without fear
of physical retribution.
Political parties, elected leaders, and candidates for
office have a special obligation to uphold these
democratic precepts”.
The US, which stressed its commitment to working
with Nigeria to strengthen its democratic
institutions in the years to come, added that
participants in the electoral process must
demonstrate passion for their convictions and
beliefs in a manner that showed respect for
opposing differences.
“As Nigeria looks ahead to the February 2015
general elections, the United States strongly
supports a free, transparent, credible, inclusive,
and non-violent electoral process,” it remarked.
Similarly, the British High Commission said it was
concerned by the reported comments of Governor
Shema of Katsina State.
According to its statement , “The British
Government supports a peaceful, credible and
transparent democratic process, in accordance
with the stated principles of the Nigerian
Constitution.
“We will continue to make this clear in our
engagement with all political actors and parties.
Briefing the media on activities of the EU in Nigeria
and in West Africa, , the Head of Delegation of EU
to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Amb Michel Arrion, said
that the speech delivered in Hausa by Shema, if
true, was certainly the beginning of the hate
speech that should not develop.
According to him, that statement was extremely
dangerous and not therefore acceptable.
“I would say it’s really the beginning of something
that is a very serious source of concern for us.
You know before my posting here in Nigeria I was
working in Rwanda. And in Rwanda, in 90 days,
they have killed 1 million ‘cockroaches’ which was
the nickname giving to the Tutsis.
“So am not sure the people using that kind of
language realise what it means, and I want to be
really clear on that. If it is confirmed because I
don’t, I am sorry to tell you all, I don’t believe
everything I read in the press.
“So we have to be careful and I hope it is not true.
And there is no good reason whatsoever to call
someone a cockroach. Before Rwanda by the way,
I was in Ivory Coast and at that time, there was a
party calling the voters of the other party ‘the
electoral cattle.’ So calling human beings cattle is
more than an insult if I will say. It’s really denying
the human nature of people. So let’s be clear on
that please.
“This kind of hate speech is absolutely not
acceptable in particular in the biggest democracy
in Africa; Nigeria after all, you are big country, you
are big nation,” Arrion said.
The EU representative, who called on Nigerians to
hold their leaders accountable for whatever
statement they made, disclosed that Ministerial
Dialogue with Nigeria and ECOWAS would be
holding next week Thursday in Abuja as part of the
effort towards addressing political and security
problems confronting the country and other West
African countries.
He said the summit, which will be hosted by
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb Aminu
Wali, would look at bilateral, regional and
international issues.
Amb. Arrion pointed out that the Italian State
Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Mario Giro, will be
leading the EU delegation to the meeting.
He stressed that the commission would look at
how it could provide financial support to the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
and the deployment of EU Observer Team ahead of
the 2015 poll.
the EU ambassador said, “Technical and financial
assistance will be giving to INEC to support them
and EU will be sending observers to the six geo-
political zones of the country to monitor the
election before and after election”
The head of EU in the country also restated the
commitment of the commission to ending
insurgency in Nigeria and called for a regional
response towards tackling the menace of terrorists
in Nigeria and the entire Gulf of Guinea.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/11/us-uk-condemn-shema-cockroach-comment/#sthash.gIOCBhH8.dpuf

Since wen did all these world powers get interested in Nigeria politics

theorbiters:
Since wen did all these world powers get interested in Nigeria politics

They shouldn't right? So that when a "Hutu vs Tutsi" massacre erupts in Nigeria, the likes of u will run and overpopulate their country in the name of asylum! Clap 4 urself!

Code213:
They shouldn't right? So that when a "Hutu vs Tutsi" massacre erupts in Nigeria, the likes of u will run and overpopulate their country in the name of asylum! Clap 4 urself!

If they are genuinely concerned, what stops them from assisting the govt in tackling the issue. What they knw how to do is just to sit where they are and talk, then produce list of 50 terrorist countries as if they have the right to.

theorbiters:
If they are genuinely concerned, what stops them from assisting the govt in tackling the issue. What they knw how to do is just to sit where they are and talk, then produce list of 50 terrorist countries as if they have the right to.

If they produce list of Terrorist countries, what stops Nigeria 4rm producing their own list, and listing the U.S in it?
Hope you've heard of USAID? Nigeria keeps receiving AID like a pauper nation! He who pays d piper dictates the tone!! Since Nigeria enjoys begging other nations 4 alms and assistance, it should also enjoy the insult and Fresh Air it gets with National Pride!