US frustrating Nigeria’s war against Boko Haram – FG
The Federal Government has accused the United States of
frustrating its efforts in the war against the Boko Haram sect
in Nigeria.
The Nigeria's ambassador to the United States, Prof. Ade
Adefuye, blasted the US in a 19-paragraph speech on the
Nigeria embassy website on Tuesday.
Adefuye alleged that the US government refused to grant
Nigeria's request to purchase lethal equipment "that would
have brought down the terrorists within a short time."
He said, "Our people are not very happy with the content of
America's support in the struggle against the Boko Harm
sect. The terrorists threaten our corporate existence and
territorial integrity. There is no use giving us the type of
support that enables us to deliver light jabs to the terrorists
when what we need to give them is the killer punch. A friend
in need is a friend indeed. The true test of friendship is in
the times of adversity."
According to the remarks on the Nigeria embassy website,
Adefuye delivered the speech at a meeting with the U.S.
Council on Foreign Relations, on Monday at the Embassy of
Nigeria, Washington D.C.
The Nigeria envoy faulted the US government for not
providing the necessary support, saying the US allegations of
human rights violation in Nigeria cannot be substantiated by
facts.
According to him, these allegations were the basis of
America's refusal to sell to Nigeria the necessary lethal
equipment to use in the fight against Boko Haram.
He said, "We find it difficult to understand how and why in
spite of the US presence in Nigeria with their sophisticated
military technology the Boko Haram sect should be
expanding and becoming more deadly. At first, we had
problems with the manner in which intelligence was being
shared. The allegations that Nigeria's defence forces have
been violating human rights of Boko Haram suspects when
captured or arrested are not true.
"I am sad to inform you that the Nigerian leadership:
military and political, and even the general populace, are
not satisfied with the scope, nature and content of the
United States' support for us in our struggle against
terrorists.
"The US Government claims that the problem has been
addressed, but it is still there. This is based largely on
reports submitted by human rights groups and sections of
the Nigerian media that have sympathy for the opposition
parties and are prepared to use whatever means possible to
embarrass the government of President Goodluck Jonathan.
The Americans claim that Leahy law forbids the sale of lethal
equipment to governments that violate human rights."
Adefuye stressed that the allegations of human right
violation, the US excuse for not granting Nigeria's request for
lethal equipment, were based on rumours, hear-says and
exaggerated accounts of clashes between the Nigerian forces
and Boko Haram fighters.
According to the Nigeria envoy, video reports of human
rights violations involving attacks on women and children
purported to have been carried out by Nigerian soldiers in
Boko Haram affected areas, were the handiwork of the
terrorists.
He said, "We pointed out to our American friends that those
activities were carried out by Boko Haram members wearing
stolen Nigerian Army uniforms. Disguise and subterfuge are
standard practices of insurgent groups. The Chibok
abduction of our school girls by Boko Haram succeeded
because the girls thought that they were being carried to
safety by soldiers of the Nigerian army.
"There was a case of an incident in Baga in 2013 when
human rights groups and the opposition press said that,
based on pictures taken from the satellite; over one
thousand six hundred houses were destroyed in a village
that has less than 600 houses.
Justifying the Federal Government, the Nigeria envoy said
although the FG declared a state of emergency Borno,
Adamawa and Yobe States, the democratic structures were
left in place.
"The parliament, judiciary, and the civilian executives
continue to function as in normal times. Nigeria did not
establish an extra judicial body to try Boko Haram suspects.
All those who were arrested on suspicion of collusion with
Boko Haram are being tried in the civilian courts; some of
them are currently out on bail," he added.
Adefuye called on the Council on Foreign Affairs to put
pressure on the US State Department and the Department of
Defence to re-examine the basis of their refusal to sell the
equipment to Nigeria.
He observed that the Boko Haram war has been politicized
as the 2015 general elections approach.
He said, "We have implored our colleagues in the embassies
of Western nations based in Nigeria to check and re-check
the facts, and not use half-truths and rumours as the basis
of their reports and recommendations to their capitals. A
famous philosopher said that 'facts are sacred; opinion is
free.' I hereby assert as a fact opinions on human rights
violations by Nigerian defence forces are biased, were not
subjected to the necessary verification.
"A stable and secure Nigeria is an invaluable asset to
America. It was the democratically elected, stable and
secure Nigeria, under President Goodluck Jonathan, that
ensured the triumph of democracy in Ivory Coast, Guinea
Conakry, Mali, and has prevented the collapse of Guinea
Bissau. Even in spite of our present challenges, President
Jonathan is taking the lead in ensuring a quick return to
democracy in Burkina Faso. America's strategic global
objective aims for a stable and secure Africa as an integral
part of a peaceful and stable world. A peaceful, stable and
secure Nigeria, free from the ravages of Boko Haram, is a
necessary pre-requisite."
frustrating its efforts in the war against the Boko Haram sect
in Nigeria.
The Nigeria's ambassador to the United States, Prof. Ade
Adefuye, blasted the US in a 19-paragraph speech on the
Nigeria embassy website on Tuesday.
Adefuye alleged that the US government refused to grant
Nigeria's request to purchase lethal equipment "that would
have brought down the terrorists within a short time."
He said, "Our people are not very happy with the content of
America's support in the struggle against the Boko Harm
sect. The terrorists threaten our corporate existence and
territorial integrity. There is no use giving us the type of
support that enables us to deliver light jabs to the terrorists
when what we need to give them is the killer punch. A friend
in need is a friend indeed. The true test of friendship is in
the times of adversity."
According to the remarks on the Nigeria embassy website,
Adefuye delivered the speech at a meeting with the U.S.
Council on Foreign Relations, on Monday at the Embassy of
Nigeria, Washington D.C.
The Nigeria envoy faulted the US government for not
providing the necessary support, saying the US allegations of
human rights violation in Nigeria cannot be substantiated by
facts.
According to him, these allegations were the basis of
America's refusal to sell to Nigeria the necessary lethal
equipment to use in the fight against Boko Haram.
He said, "We find it difficult to understand how and why in
spite of the US presence in Nigeria with their sophisticated
military technology the Boko Haram sect should be
expanding and becoming more deadly. At first, we had
problems with the manner in which intelligence was being
shared. The allegations that Nigeria's defence forces have
been violating human rights of Boko Haram suspects when
captured or arrested are not true.
"I am sad to inform you that the Nigerian leadership:
military and political, and even the general populace, are
not satisfied with the scope, nature and content of the
United States' support for us in our struggle against
terrorists.
"The US Government claims that the problem has been
addressed, but it is still there. This is based largely on
reports submitted by human rights groups and sections of
the Nigerian media that have sympathy for the opposition
parties and are prepared to use whatever means possible to
embarrass the government of President Goodluck Jonathan.
The Americans claim that Leahy law forbids the sale of lethal
equipment to governments that violate human rights."
Adefuye stressed that the allegations of human right
violation, the US excuse for not granting Nigeria's request for
lethal equipment, were based on rumours, hear-says and
exaggerated accounts of clashes between the Nigerian forces
and Boko Haram fighters.
According to the Nigeria envoy, video reports of human
rights violations involving attacks on women and children
purported to have been carried out by Nigerian soldiers in
Boko Haram affected areas, were the handiwork of the
terrorists.
He said, "We pointed out to our American friends that those
activities were carried out by Boko Haram members wearing
stolen Nigerian Army uniforms. Disguise and subterfuge are
standard practices of insurgent groups. The Chibok
abduction of our school girls by Boko Haram succeeded
because the girls thought that they were being carried to
safety by soldiers of the Nigerian army.
"There was a case of an incident in Baga in 2013 when
human rights groups and the opposition press said that,
based on pictures taken from the satellite; over one
thousand six hundred houses were destroyed in a village
that has less than 600 houses.
Justifying the Federal Government, the Nigeria envoy said
although the FG declared a state of emergency Borno,
Adamawa and Yobe States, the democratic structures were
left in place.
"The parliament, judiciary, and the civilian executives
continue to function as in normal times. Nigeria did not
establish an extra judicial body to try Boko Haram suspects.
All those who were arrested on suspicion of collusion with
Boko Haram are being tried in the civilian courts; some of
them are currently out on bail," he added.
Adefuye called on the Council on Foreign Affairs to put
pressure on the US State Department and the Department of
Defence to re-examine the basis of their refusal to sell the
equipment to Nigeria.
He observed that the Boko Haram war has been politicized
as the 2015 general elections approach.
He said, "We have implored our colleagues in the embassies
of Western nations based in Nigeria to check and re-check
the facts, and not use half-truths and rumours as the basis
of their reports and recommendations to their capitals. A
famous philosopher said that 'facts are sacred; opinion is
free.' I hereby assert as a fact opinions on human rights
violations by Nigerian defence forces are biased, were not
subjected to the necessary verification.
"A stable and secure Nigeria is an invaluable asset to
America. It was the democratically elected, stable and
secure Nigeria, under President Goodluck Jonathan, that
ensured the triumph of democracy in Ivory Coast, Guinea
Conakry, Mali, and has prevented the collapse of Guinea
Bissau. Even in spite of our present challenges, President
Jonathan is taking the lead in ensuring a quick return to
democracy in Burkina Faso. America's strategic global
objective aims for a stable and secure Africa as an integral
part of a peaceful and stable world. A peaceful, stable and
secure Nigeria, free from the ravages of Boko Haram, is a
necessary pre-requisite."
.
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