- By Mike Kebonkwu
If a relatively little known country in the Horns of Africa, or any of our neighbouring west African countries were to have denied a Nigerian citizen or national of entry permit or treats him with indignity, nobody would have heard about it. That is the usual experience and lot of Nigerians everywhere they go; even on transit. No thanks to the poor image we cut for ourselves with poor political leadership. Whatever your standing in life, a Nigerian is painted with the same uniform brush of corruption and criminality; that is the usual stereotype.
We must therefore not lose our minds because Canada denied the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and some military personnel visa to attend the Invictus games for injured soldiers and veterans in Vancouver Canada. For those concerned about the numbers, it was a military game and there was nothing that says that the CDS could not have been at the head of delegation if he attaches such importance to it.
What was the method of application for the visa; did it meet the standard practice? Being a military game or event, the Defence Section of the Canadian embassy or the defence attaché had an important role to play to facilitate the visa application; were they aware and what did they do?
Reactions had been mixed though; but overall the denial reflects adequately the views and ratings of our country by the Canadian government and its embassy staff as well as European countries generally. Many of us would not want anything untoward to happen in diplomatic relations with Canada because that is where a host of our children and citizens are taking refuge as economic migrants to escape the poor educational environment and poverty in Nigeria to earn decent living because of their seemingly liberal visa regime. As my people would say, “what affects the eyes affects the nose”.
Christopher Musa is a four-star General and belongs to the crème la crème of the Infantry Corps of the Nigerian Army, the Queens of battle. He is battle tested, with shinning armour and highly decorated. He is the Chief of Defence Staff of the Nigerian Armed Forces; the number one soldier and one of our finest. General Musa does not appear to understand or care a hoot about politics of self preservation but rather chooses to speak like a soldier that he is, baring his mind on any issue even if it hurts the political establishment or international agencies or foreign governments. He is simply vocal with little reservation. He has attained the highest rank in the armed forces of Nigeria, short of a field marshal, which is an uncommon award hardly attained except for the maverick Field Marshal Idi Amin Dada of Uganda. He qualifies as a ranking member on protocol list, domestic or international as number one soldier of the Nigerian Military on active service.
It was a surprise to hear that he was denied visa by the Canadian embassy in Nigeria for an official visit to Canada. Again, Christopher Musa does not belong to the class of people that would lament the refusal of visa to any country in the world for that matter. He can get his pleasure anywhere in Nigeria with all the insecurity, and he would still catch his fun; so what is the big fuss after all about Canadian visa! Let them go with their visa but they may not need to go to hell. It would appear to me that the denial of visa is not so much of an error of omission but racial arrogance and prejudice.
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Whatever the visit was meant to achieve, we should look beyond the usual animus we have for privileged Nigerians and beef with soldiers and first, examine the disrespect to our country which such denial represents in international diplomacy. I am aware that Canada is one of the Western countries that feel strongly about the allegations of human rights abuses levelled against the Nigerian military establishment in the fight against insurgency without substantiation. I am also aware that they even deny visas to some family members of military officers where they are known to have served in places with reported incidents of alleged rights abuses in the fight against insurgency, banditry and insecurity in Nigeria. The war against insecurity is our own war; the western countries and Europe cannot fight it for us. They want to impose their model and value system on us and would not want the security forces to use lethal force against criminals and insurgents levying war against the state; something they do not tolerate or harbour in their own countries.
Some European countries and America have denied Nigeria equipment and armament and are reluctant to share security intelligence at their disposal. This is why the mounting allegations of sponsorship of the insurgency against some Western countries through numerous NGOs and aid regimes is plausible and believable. They are able to enlist and pay civil society organizations and right groups in Nigeria to carry out their campaign without understanding the destabilizing effect of such campaign to the country.
Nigeria does not deserve to be treated in condescension and patronage but for poor political leadership that seek approval from foreign countries and agencies. While Nigeria should avoid diplomatic rows with Canada or any other foreign country for that matter, there should be reciprocal treatment in equal measures to what we get from any other sovereign country. We should not forget, and we should not forgive! We should also consider reviewing military cooperations with such country but not necessarily through declaration of conflict. If we have managed our affairs properly as a nation, Canada should be the least of countries to haul diplomatic insult on Nigeria in trading with visa to our citizens and nationals. This is about Nigeria; an injustice done to one should be seen as injustice done to all!
We should not turn the other cheek. It is time for us to retool our educational institutions for modern scholarship and learning. We should build and develop our economy and infrastructure. Our healthcare delivery system should be cutting edged to stop medical tourism. We should prioritize security, and trust me, we can do it. We should not tolerate racism of any kind; White, Asian or Arab, with condescending patronage and tolerance.
Whatever the reason for the denial which is still shady and cloudy, the message is very clear that we do not count in the estimation of the West who see us through the prisms of generalization as criminals and corrupt people. For every act or omission, we invite America and Europe for endorsement. We invite the International Criminal Court (ICC) and other international organizations to arrest and prosecute our leaders for wrongs done on our soil. Don’t we have our own institutions and laws? We steal the wealth of our countries and take it to Europe to hide where they use it to develop their economies. We run to the European and Western countries for holidays and medical tourism. We want to advertise our presence in European capitals riding in their railways, tubes and night clubs as mark of recognition and importance.
We continue to make our country to look big for nothing before foreigners and so they take liberty to treat us like morons and mendicants.
We accept every prescription and recommendation from the west and their organizations in disregard of our culture and morality. They want us to accept gay, lesbianism, and homosexuals as fundamental rights and our NGOs and CSOs are given grants to carry out the campaigns; and we are happy with the handout from them. We should not get migraine because of Canadian visa; let them go with their visa. Canada does not compare to Nigeria in natural endowment. Ordinarily they should be the ones looking for visa to come to Nigeria and enjoy the beauty and generosity of nature and friendly and hospitable people. It is time to reposition our country and earn our respect and dignity amongst comity of nations. The denial of visa to General Christopher Musa and his team is a good lesson for us! They should deny more privileged and prominent Nigerians visa; period!
•Kebonkwu Esq writes via mikekebonkwu@yahoo.com
