Nigeria, will start ascending the pedestal of success and join the league of prosperous nations only when her citizens are able to draw lines of demarcation between politics and nation building. Politics of mudslinging and the entrenched 'pull him down syndrome' will only leave us crawling and marking time on a spot.
According to Premium Times, an online media of October 9, 2014, Mr James Entwistle , gave insight into the reason why Nigerian military has difficulty getting arms from America. The U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, in his effort to absolve the U.S's alleged attempts to block all legitimate attempts of the Nigerian Government from arms procurement and in extension undermine the war against the Boko Haram Insurgency in the North Eastern part of the country ended up, in corroborating the ealier pronouncements of the Federal Government against the American Government.
In his account, he gave two reasons which has made it difficult for the Nigerian military to access arms from America. Among his reasons is that the Nigerian military has been accused of Human right violations and secondly his country will need to evaluate the demand for arm purchase to assertain if such a demand makes sense in terms of that country's needs.
Let's examine the two reasons the American envoy submitted, are those enough reasons for a country like the U.S, to block every legitimate attempts of Nigeria to purchase arms? Bearing in mind that allegation remains allegation until proven otherwise. You might want to ask the American Government, which International or national court of law, tried and convicted the Nigerian millitary of Human rights complicity? Judging from his second reason, is it justifiable for America to block Nigeria from purchasing arms base on the fact that it has not confirmed whether such an arm purchase makes sense in terms of the country's needs.
If we do not receive fair judgement and evaluation from America, South Africa and their allies, should we resort to pulling ourselves down? And should we continue to make sure that any block erected towards the building of national walls are pulled down? When shall we learn to trust and work with our own to achieve a common goal?
Stones have been hurled at the Federal Government and the person of the CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor by the Oppositions and different analysts. The Federal Govt in defence of it's helpless situation in combating the menace of Boko Haram resorted into desperation by engaging in cash in hand arms purchase from South Africa after it had been revealed that America has blocked every means and route of arms purchase. What else does the All Progressive Party, APC want, as at friday, the APC still stuck to it's gun, saying that the federal government has to come clean on the scandal and on the identity of the Nigerians aboard the plane, which carried the $9.3 million impounded by the South African government.
Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, in his defence has submitted that though the said aircraft belonged to him, he had given it out on lease. And as far as lease is concerned, he is not in a position to know or dictate to the lessee what to and what not to carry. Would it be too difficult for the likes of Senator George Akume and Mallam El Rufai, to come to terms with what it entails and the conditions involved in lease financing? I have come to the conclusion that the truth is as bright as the midday sun, and cannot be hidden but in an attempt to say that the sun does not exist, some has gone into their rooms and hid in the dark of the room to claim the non existence of the sun.
I am of the opinion that patrotism and commitment to nation building should transcend parochial and self serving interest of individuals. I strongly hold the opinion that in the spirit of patriotism, we shall all collectively rise to our feet to say no to American acts of sabotage and South Africans holier than thou attitude aimed at ridiculing Nigeria before the comity of Nations.
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