Ribadu tackles Canada for ‘denying’ CDS, others visas

The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, has slammed the Canadian High Commission in Abuja for allegedly denying Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa and other senior military officers visas. The CDS and other top military officers were to visit Canada for a programme organised in honour of military officers injured in battlefields. Ribadu […]

The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, has slammed the Canadian High Commission in Abuja for allegedly denying Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa and other senior military officers visas.

The CDS and other top military officers were to visit Canada for a programme organised in honour of military officers injured in battlefields.

Ribadu hit the embassy yesterday when he and the CDS and spoke at Yar’adua Centre, Abuja, venue of the maiden annual lecture of the Alumni Association of the National Institute for Security Studies (AANISS).

The lecture, attended by military, police and para-military agencies’ officers, was themed: ‘Mobilising Stakeholders to Curb Insecurity in Nigeria: A Practical Approach’.

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The NSA described the denial as “painful and disrespectful”.

He said it reinforced the usual call that Nigeria needs to be developed by working harder to ensure that the country is better than before.

 

The NSA said Canada “can go to hell”

“Thank you (CDS) for the courage to say Canada denied you visas. They can go to hell. Even though it’s painful and disrespectful, we remain peaceful and strong.

“I agree with you – it is time to fix our country. Yet, this is another reason we must work hard to make Nigeria better,” Ribadu stated.

 

CDS expresses disappointment

Earlier, the CDS had said: “You know every disappointment is a blessing. When I was invited to this occasion, I didn’t want to make a comment whether I was going to attend or not, because I was actually meant to, by yesterday (Wednesday), have been in Canada, Vancouver, Canada.

“There is an event to honor our veterans, those who were injured during the battle, and I think this is just a clear reminder to us that we are on our own, that we need to stand strong as a nation so that nobody takes us for granted.

“Actually, we were invited for an event with our team, our team, half had gone, half had been denied (visas), because the conference is ongoing, half are here and half back there. It is really very disappointing, but we thank God for everything.”

 

We’ll react today – Canadian Embassy

When contacted, Oluwademilade Kosemani, a senior Public Affairs Officer at the Canadian High Commission in Abuja, told Daily Trust that “the mission will issue a statement on Friday (today) in response to the issue.”

 

‘Insecurity threatening Nigeria’s unity’

The president of AANISS, Mike Ejiofor, told the gathering that insecurity has continued “to threaten our unity, undermine development, retard economic growth, and create enormous humanitarian and social problems.”

He said the topic of the lecture was chosen to leverage the experiences and practical strategies of stakeholders in tackling insecurity across our nation and Africa at large.

He said the presence of Ribadu and others underscored their deep commitment to exploring sustainable approaches to address the insecurity in Nigeria.

“While we continue to pray for the repose of the souls of all gallant officers and men who have lost their lives defending our nation and our citizens, all stakeholders must continue to work assiduously to keep the flag flying in defence of humanity and our nation so that all forms of sacrifice by the living and the deceased will not be in vain,” he said.

He added, “Distinguished guests, today is 13th February, a day that remains a watershed in the history of governance of our great country, Nigeria. 13th February, 1976, precisely 49 years ago in a traffic jam on a Lagos street and in broad daylight, assassins’ bullets killed our then Head of State, General Murtala Muhammed, on his way to work in Dodan Barracks; the then seat of government, in a failed coup attempt…”

 

‘Let’s tackle impunity to address insecurity’

The guest lecturer, the Director-General, Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Garba Wahab, a retired Major-General, said to curb insecurity in the country, “impunity must be eradicated or at least reduced, by courts possibly with timelines for cases. Justice should not be delayed.

“Major stakeholders must ensure people are treated with respect and dignity. Law enforcement agents must be encouraged to perform.”