Anti-gay Law: Nigeria, Uganda May Lose US Human Rights Ratings
Anti-gay Law: Nigeria, Uganda May Lose US Human Rights Ratings
US Secretary of State, Mr. John Kerry
• Nigerian-Americans tell Obama to demonstrate war against Boko Haram in practical terms
• Nigerian-Americans tell Obama to demonstrate war against Boko Haram in practical terms
By Nduka Nwosu in New York
US Secretary of State, Mr. John Kerry, will today present the country’s
2013 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices that could affect
Nigeria and Uganda’s ratings on human rights following the passage of
anti-gay laws by both African countries.
US Secretary of State, Mr. John Kerry, will today present the country’s
2013 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices that could affect
Nigeria and Uganda’s ratings on human rights following the passage of
anti-gay laws by both African countries.
However, for Nigerian-Americans, what is of utmost importance to the
people is for the US to show greater commitment in its support to
eradicate the Boko Haram menace and other forms of terrorism in the
country.
people is for the US to show greater commitment in its support to
eradicate the Boko Haram menace and other forms of terrorism in the
country.
With Nigeria’s recent ban on homosexuality and same-sex unions and
Uganda’s anti-gay law during the week, observers believe some African
countries may receive a knock today, as Kerry presents his score card.
Uganda’s anti-gay law during the week, observers believe some African
countries may receive a knock today, as Kerry presents his score card.
Apart from the anti-gay marriage law, Nigeria had last year been
criticised by the US over what it called extra-judicial killings of the
civilian population in its fight against Boko Haram in the northern part
of the country.
criticised by the US over what it called extra-judicial killings of the
civilian population in its fight against Boko Haram in the northern part
of the country.
Although it later soft-pedaled, this did not stop the Obama
administration from expressing its disappointment on what it called
discrimination against gay people.
administration from expressing its disappointment on what it called
discrimination against gay people.
While the Obama administration yesterday sent Assistant Secretary of
State Linda Thomas Greenfield to lecture Nigerian-Americans on the
priorities of his administration with respect to US policy vis-a-vis the
continent of Africa and her recent trip to Nigeria, Nigerian-Americans
have expressed their frustration that Boko Haram has turned the northern
part of the country into a killing field with well over 40 students of
the Federal Government College, Bunu-Yadi in Yobe State, massacred in
cold blood early on Tuesday morning.
Thomas-Greenfield, who has remained the critical voice in delivering
this promise, has been working hard to push the deal further beyond the
branding of Boko Haram as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO).
State Linda Thomas Greenfield to lecture Nigerian-Americans on the
priorities of his administration with respect to US policy vis-a-vis the
continent of Africa and her recent trip to Nigeria, Nigerian-Americans
have expressed their frustration that Boko Haram has turned the northern
part of the country into a killing field with well over 40 students of
the Federal Government College, Bunu-Yadi in Yobe State, massacred in
cold blood early on Tuesday morning.
Thomas-Greenfield, who has remained the critical voice in delivering
this promise, has been working hard to push the deal further beyond the
branding of Boko Haram as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO).
The Obama’s administration had promised the US military would be
training their Nigerian counterparts in the effort to properly combat
terror groups in the country and in his recent breakfast prayer meeting
said: “I have pledged our support to the people of Nigeria, who deserve
to worship in their churches and mosques in peace, free from terror.”
training their Nigerian counterparts in the effort to properly combat
terror groups in the country and in his recent breakfast prayer meeting
said: “I have pledged our support to the people of Nigeria, who deserve
to worship in their churches and mosques in peace, free from terror.”
However, Nigerians in the Diaspora are not happy at the turn of events.
The chairman Diaspora Nigerians in America, Dr. Chika Onyeani, said
beyond platitudes, it is doubtful that the US is willing to send in
ground troops even on a limited basis as it had done with the Lords
Resistance Army in Uganda.
The chairman Diaspora Nigerians in America, Dr. Chika Onyeani, said
beyond platitudes, it is doubtful that the US is willing to send in
ground troops even on a limited basis as it had done with the Lords
Resistance Army in Uganda.
According to the publisher African Sun Times, President Goodluck
Jonathan must deal force with force, and dispense with niceties, adding,
“His immediate objective must be to stop civilians dying, as it is
becoming apparent that there are forces within Nigeria that are working
very hard to ensure that the Jonathan administration is seen as being
incapable of protecting the lives of civilians in the North.
Jonathan must deal force with force, and dispense with niceties, adding,
“His immediate objective must be to stop civilians dying, as it is
becoming apparent that there are forces within Nigeria that are working
very hard to ensure that the Jonathan administration is seen as being
incapable of protecting the lives of civilians in the North.
“Jonathan should invite the Israeli MOSSAD to train an elite force of
Nigerian soldiers to wipe out Boko Haram. Nigerians need peace whether
you are from the North or South.”
Nigerian soldiers to wipe out Boko Haram. Nigerians need peace whether
you are from the North or South.”
Also, a lecturer teaching in a higher institution in Houston, Texas,
Dr. Acho Orabuchi, said Boko Haram is ruining the Nigerian economy,
while urging the Obama administration to triple its contribution on the
war against the terrorist group.
With improved security in the country, Orabuchi argued, Nigeria will
attract more foreign investments and tourists in the country.
Dr. Acho Orabuchi, said Boko Haram is ruining the Nigerian economy,
while urging the Obama administration to triple its contribution on the
war against the terrorist group.
With improved security in the country, Orabuchi argued, Nigeria will
attract more foreign investments and tourists in the country.
The President Equal Rights For Persons with Disability International
Inc, Eric Ufom, added: “As a person with disability challenges, the US
should intervene and help reduce the increasing number of disabled
persons as a result of terrorist attacks in the country.
Inc, Eric Ufom, added: “As a person with disability challenges, the US
should intervene and help reduce the increasing number of disabled
persons as a result of terrorist attacks in the country.
“Nobody takes care of us. We don’t want an addition to the numbers in
our fold. If the US had intervened at the early stages of this war, this
whole thing would have been nipped in the bud. When a victim survives
this kind of attack, he remains disabled for life.”
our fold. If the US had intervened at the early stages of this war, this
whole thing would have been nipped in the bud. When a victim survives
this kind of attack, he remains disabled for life.”
Nigeria’s ambassador to the US Professor Ade Adefuye, who is the host
of today’s event holding at the Nigerian embassy on the Ambassador
Andrew Young Lecture Series organised by the African Society on the
National Summit on Africa, said the event will be a strong pedestal for
Greenfield to draw the world’s attention to the issue of terrorism in
the country as well as her experiences in her recent visit to the
country.
of today’s event holding at the Nigerian embassy on the Ambassador
Andrew Young Lecture Series organised by the African Society on the
National Summit on Africa, said the event will be a strong pedestal for
Greenfield to draw the world’s attention to the issue of terrorism in
the country as well as her experiences in her recent visit to the
country.
Adefuye added: “We are pleased to host this programme at the embassy.
It further demonstrates the positive state of affairs between Nigeria
and the US. It is also timely for just one week ago Assistant Secretary
of State Thomas-Greenfield led the US delegation to the US-Nigeria
Bi-National Commission.
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