Guardian Newspapers
Oghogho Obayuwana, Abuja
Thursday, December 18, 2008
And for the first time in recent history, the Federal Government has given a condition for the participation of Nigerian troops in a peacekeeping venture. She wants equipment and logistics assistance from the United Nations and particularly Great Britain before a deployment of three battalions to the war-ravaged Somalia.
Making the disclosures at a briefing in Abuja, Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, also said that following the election of Barack Obama as the United States (U.S.) President, Nigeria is now looking forward to "a new level of more engaged, more proactive partnership to enable a more comprehensive exchange of ideas on issues of mutual interest."
This, according to him, include the U.S. support for Nigeria's efforts to criminalise crude oil theft in the international oil market by declaring them "blood oil" in the same way "conflict diamonds" were proclaimed illegal and proclaimed "blood diamond" under the Kimberley process.
The minister had earlier on Monday hosted members of the diplomatic community in Nigeria where, among others, he promised more intense consultations with them in the coming year. Yesterday's briefing touched on the diplomatic shuttles to the U.S. and Britain where the Nigerian delegation met with the country's policy making groups as well as the British Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary, David Milliband, the Minister of State for Africa, Mark Malloch Brown and the Minister for Immigration at the Home Office Phil Woolas.
The new position on peacekeeping efforts was surmised by the minister thus: "If Nigeria is to continue to play the role of peace keeper and for regional stability in Africa, our economy has to be supported. We are now asking for support also for our internal capacity to combat international terrorism, particularly the challenges posed by the Niger Delta"
The minister also spoke elaborately on the threat or the perception of it, by certain western nations, which have expressed dismay over the way and manner the former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Malam Nuhu Ribadu is being hounded, also on the thinking that Nigeria's rating in the corruption index by the Transparency International (TI) will drop on account of that fact.
His words: "We have said that the rule of law is about institutional efficiency and we say to all; don't lecture us on how to fight corruption. Nigeria will not accept any meddling in its affairs on the issue. We reject that, we recent that and it is not acceptable...And that is why we say to the press; the New York Times and Washington Post understand that they cannot strip their country naked. If our laws do not allow the lynching of anyone on the streets, it will also not allow the lynching of anyone on the pages of the newspapers. Nuhu Ribadu has done this nation proud, and has done wonderfully well with demonstration effect. I call on him to allow his patriotic instinct to prevail. And you do not scatter the yam mould that you built today because you have issues."
On Somalia, Zimbabwe and Darfur, Maduekwe said: "We are a frontline state in Africa. Yes we will go into Somalia eventually but troops have to be well equipped and prepared. The situation in Somalia is as worse as what you have in Baghdad. We are opposed to violent change in Zimbabwe. We have told the two parties in Zimbabwe to put the people of the country first before battling it hard on power sharing. Nigeria has been forceful enough on Zimbabwe. Now, there is a decision of the UN that it has responsibility to protect Zimbabwe. We think it will be a failure of diplomatic engagement if Nigeria broke ranks with other African countries and fail to consult. We have also agreed with the UN Commander (Darfur) Gen. Martin Agwai on the need for more troops. We are saying that additional troops is in the interest of the Sudanese authorities to cooperate with the International Criminal Court "
Stressing that the Federal Government is working hard at getting the U.S. government under the Obama presidency to diversify its investments, penetrating the non-oil sectors, the minister noted that "there is need for more creative diplomacy from the U.S. This was our message. That Nigeria must internalise lessons quickly. The election of Obama has shown what the environment of fair play can do. He did not get there because some people rooted: It's our turn to have a black man as president. He is a product of a system that makes the best win. It is about institutional efficiency not charismatic zeal of any one individual."
Source: Guardian Newspapers, Dec 18, 2008