US frustrating Nigeria’s war against Boko Haram – FG
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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