The UN's secretary general urges Rwanda not to withdraw its peacekeepers from Sudan over a leaked report saying its troops may have committed genocide.
FORMER BRITISH PM BLAIR COMMENDS NIGERIA'S POLITICAL LEADERS
Written by Agence France Presse, Abuja, Funso Muraina, Abuja and Ojo Sonaike
Certain groups within and outside the country often term Nigeria as a failed State. The definition of failed states in the Nigerian case has come to mean the absence of serious internal challenges. Yet, the country continued to overcome challenges, which stronger nations had failed to cope with before disintegration. Now following the political impasse over the President’s absence, Tony Blair, says Nigeria has handled the situation with commendable zeal and skill.
ABUJA (AFP) – On Saturday 20th February, 2010, Blair lauded Nigeria for the way it handled a potentially tricky situation brought by the protracted absence of the president. On the first leg of a tour of west Africa, Blair held talks with Nigeria's acting president Goodluck Jonathan.
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"I want to thank him for the wise way he and the institutions of the Nigeria government have handled themselves in the last few days," Blair told reporters after meeting Jonathan. And I want to say it has been a pretty difficult situation and I think they have handled it with skill. Even in what seems to be a unique and difficult situation," the world's eighth-largest oil exporter "has been able to function and move forward in a proper way"
Already Blair is in Abuja alongside other world and US leaders like former President George Bush and his former US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice and others or the awards ceremony set to recognise and honour 50 distinguished Nigerians who have played critical roles in the country’s developmental efforts since 1960. The THISDAY Nigeria-at-50 Awards would be a major kick-off for the celebration of Nigeria’s golden jubilee anniversary as an independent nation.
The leaders would hold a discussion on the theme: “Nigeria: The Next 50 Years”. Also, THISDAY Lifetime Achievement Awards would be presented to 15 nominees, whose names were earlier announced by the Board of Editors. Nigeria’s Acting President Goodluck Jonathan would be special guest of honour along with former Ghanaian President, John Kufour. At the THISDAY Dome located at the central area of the Federal Capital Territory and a distance of about a few metres from the Three Arms zone, which is housing the National Assembly, Presiden-tial Villa and the Supreme Court, security was very tight.
As the leaders gather for the epic event, one thing may yet be lost on those who are determined to portray Nigeria wrongly, which is that the presence of these leaders exposes their unwavering faith in Nigeria. It is instructive that these are the same leaders, that put pen to paper to official policies and pronouncements that questioned the political directions of Nigeria. From the same country and their current leaders, have not come any such commendations about the remarkable resilience Nigeria has shown in the face of such political challenge. It simply suggests that in the politics of the US and UK it is not about morals, justice and human convictions but the overall economic and political interests/influences of these States, which even their leaders may not personally believe in, that has determined their posture towards Nigeria.
The lessons to learn from this is that Hillary Clinton may make as much noise about Nigeria as she may wish; and Barack Obama may even chose to visit Cape Verde thrice in 2010 over Nigeria. However, the reality is that, in the depths of their heart they can not deny the greatness and strength that Nigeria represents not just as the boiling point of African heritage but the melting point of its political thought and direction. For that reason, three or seven years from now, both Obama and Hillary would also be visiting to clear their consciences and speak the truth that their hearts have yearned terribly to do - praise this country called Nigeria.
Certain groups within and outside the country often term Nigeria as a failed State. The definition of failed states in the Nigerian case has come to mean the absence of serious internal challenges. Yet, the country continued to overcome challenges, which stronger nations had failed to cope with before disintegration. Now following the political impasse over the President’s absence, Tony Blair, says Nigeria has handled the situation with commendable zeal and skill.