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| Shiite/Army Clash: Iran recalls envoy, Saheed Kozechi as diplomatic row brews |
A diplomatic row is brewing between Nigeria and Iran. It has emerged that the Islamic Republic of Iran has recalled its ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Saheed Kozechi, Wednesday. Although, no reason was given by the country’s External Affairs Ministry, a very reliable source has informed that Kozechi was recalled as a fallout of Iranian government displeasure with Nigeria army's brutality on Shiite muslims in Kaduna State.
The Iranian ambassador had made some utterances, which went as far as threatening Nigeria and the Nigerian government.
The Iranian ambassador had made some utterances, which went as far as threatening Nigeria and the Nigerian government.
It was equally gathered Kozechi was fingered in the clandestine funding and instigation of the Shiite sect in Nigeria, a situation that should have earned him outright expulsion but for the intervention of Russia.
A top diplomatic source who pleaded anonymity said that the country withdrew Mr Kozechi “to avoid litigation filed against the country and the ambassador in Nigeria and other international fora from ECOWAS Court to ICC.” The source said,
“After much pleading he (Kozechi) was able to get influential Nigerians to ensure he was still able to say his official farewell at the Presidential Villa because you realise that from the way he carried on about the Nigerians state he should not have been accorded such courtesy.”
His removal was brought about by the doggedness of some civil society groups that took Kozechi to task over his vituperative utterances and stoking the embers of religious extremism which they argued could lead to another round of terrorism by the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, a branch of Shiite Sect in Nigeria which for long was accused of militarizing its followers to the point of attempting to assassinate the Chief of Army Staff late last year.
The ambassador’s removal might also not be unconnected to likely indictment and recommendations of the National Human Rights Commission and the Kaduna State Judicial Commission of Inquiry which would soon make their findings public. The recall could be seen as a saving face measures to avoid outright expulsion, which the country could ill-afford. Attempt to reach the outgoing Ambassador for his reaction was unsuccessful.
-Vanguard
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