Nigeria on Tuesday expressed concerns over the decision of the U.S. to exclude it from participating in the U.S. rapper Nicki Minaj event on alleged killings of Nigerians of a specific faith group.
The Chargé d’Affaires, Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the
UN, Mr Syndoph Endoni, said the decision to exclude Nigeria from the
discussion, which was held at the UN headquarters in New York, amounted to
“shaving our head in our absence”.
The Minaj event, which was held at the UN headquarters in
New York in collaboration with the Permanent Mission of the U.S. to the UN, was
against the background of the ongoing accusation by the U.S. alleging Christian
persecution in Nigeria.
U.S. President Donald Trump had recently designated Nigeria
as “a Country of Particular Concern” over alleged Christian genocide in the
country.
The Nigerian envoy, however, refuted the ongoing accusations
by the U.S. authorities alleging Christian genocide in Nigeria, which the
Nigerian authorities have severely rejected.
“It is important to ensure the country concerned in the
ongoing allegations of genocide against Christians is present, aware and has a
voice in the matter.
“This is because you should not make important decisions or
take action on something that involves a country without their presence or
consent.”
Endoni said by refusing Nigeria’s participation, the U.S.
authorities had denied Nigeria the right and opportunity to tell its own side
of the story.
The Nigerian envoy expressed disappointment that a few
countries were allowed participation at the event, querying the rationale for
shutting Nigeria out.
He said, “We asked the U.S. authorities if it was okay to
continue to shave someone’s hair in his absence.
“We further highlighted that the Nigerian government is not
standing idly by to watch the atrocities perpetrated by the criminals.”
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In addition, the Nigerian envoy stressed that both countries
can jointly solve the insecurity problems in Nigeria only if they work
together.
Endoni urged the U.S. to ensure inclusive engagements to
avoid undue escalation over claims of persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the U.S.
Senior Advisor for African Affairs, Amb. Patricia Mahoney, had visited the
Nigeria House in New York on Monday to intimate Syndoph about the Minaj event.
At the meeting, the U.S. representative informed Nigeria
that three UN member countries were invited with other personalities, including
a pastor from Nigeria.
However, she informed us that no representative of the
Nigerian government, including from the Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the UN,
was invited.
According to him, the U.S. envoy informed him that the event
was a private event.
The Nigerian envoy expressed concerns over the U.S.’ actions
of naming and shaming, saying it is capable of causing apprehensions in the
country.
NAN reports that the main reason Nigeria was denied
participation was to honour the participants’ specific request not to allow
Nigerian officials for fear of retribution for them and their families.
However, the envoy said the Nigerian authorities would
continue to engage their U.S. counterparts over the killings by extremists and
to collaborate to protect lives and property in Nigeria. (NAN)
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