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| Nigeria's diplomatic mistakes pile up: How Nigeria snubbed Netanyahu at ECOWAS summit |
This is coming on he heals of another diplomatic mistake during a shambolic Nigeria's government visit to Russia.
Nigeria was conspicuously absent from the 51st ECOWAS Summit of Heads of State and Government held in Liberia’s capital Monrovia.
Biafra: Sorry we can't help you! African states should deal with internal problems. We do not interfere. Russia tells Nigerian Foreign Minister sent to beg for help
The two day summit, which started on Saturday, June 3, 2017 was attended by Netanyahu. The event was so significant as that was the first time a non-African leader was allowed to ever address an ECOWAS Summit and also the first Israeli leader to visit West Africa since the 1960s.
Daily Trust could not get the details of Nigeria’s decision not to attend the summit which, sources alluded, may be connected to the presence of the Israeli PM.
When contacted, the spokesperson, ministry of foreign affair, Clement Aduku, confirmed that there was no Nigerian government representatives at the summit but could not give the reason for the country’s absence.
The shunning of Netanyahu by Nigeria is related t recent comment Netanyahu made about Biafra where he called on the world to recognise the Biafran genocide. Netanyahu had stated during the 2017 Holocaust Remembrance Day that: "True, since World War II there has not been a tragedy similar in scope to the Holocaust,” he said. “But there are many cases where the world stood aside and did not prevent genocide or mass murder: in Biafra, Cambodia, Rwanda, Sudan and also in Syria.”
The shunning of Netanyahu by Nigeria is related t recent comment Netanyahu made about Biafra where he called on the world to recognise the Biafran genocide. Netanyahu had stated during the 2017 Holocaust Remembrance Day that: "True, since World War II there has not been a tragedy similar in scope to the Holocaust,” he said. “But there are many cases where the world stood aside and did not prevent genocide or mass murder: in Biafra, Cambodia, Rwanda, Sudan and also in Syria.”
However, former President Olusegun Obasanjo was at the summit.
Morroco’s King Mohammed VI, who was expected to push for his country to join the West African bloc as a full member, cancelled his trip due to Netanyahu’s presence.
King Mohammed VI cancelled his trip “to avoid any confusion”, said a statement from the country’s foreign affairs ministry.
“King Mohammed VI wishes his first presence at an ECOWAS summit not to take place in a context of tension and controversy,” it said.
Morocco, like several African countries supported Palestine’s observer status at the United Nations in 2012.
Speaking at the summit yesterday, Netanyahu urged African leaders to partner with his country to build the continent’s capacity.
“I come here as an instruction of the simple truth, Israel is coming to Africa and Africa is coming back to Israel. I believe in Africa, I believe in its potential, present and future,” he said.
Netanyahu also invited the leaders of the ECOWAS member-states to the Africa-Israel summit in Togo in October where he is expected to meet with the leaders of 25 African countries to discuss multilateral cooperation.
Meanwhile, the Summit named the Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe as the new chairperson of the regional bloc, taking over from Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
‘Not meeting Israeli’s Netanyahu at ECOWAS Summit marks beginning of the end for Buhari/Osinbajo govt’ - Fani-Kayode
Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode criticised the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, for not attending the 51st ECOWAS Summit of Heads of State and Government, which took place on Saturday.
The summit held in Liberia’s capital, Monrovia, afford the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo the opportunity to meet with Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who was in attendance. Femi Fani_kayode & President Buhari Femi Fani-Kayode in a statement said the boycotting of the 51st ECOWAS Summit of Heads of State and Government marked the beginning of the end for Buhari/Osinbajo government.
He lamented that for Osinbajo to have snubbed and insulted the Jewish state was not only disappointing but also, reprehensible and deeply repugnant and that Nigeria is ‘not a Muslim country but rather a modern, plural, 21st century, multi-religious, multi-cultural and multi-racial secular state in which over 90 million Christians love and adore the great nation of Israel.
‘Mark this: the boycotting of the ECOWAS Heads of Government meeting with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu by the Buhari/Osinbajo government marks the beginning of the end for them.
‘It may also mark the beginning of the end for Nigeria. It has resulted in a deep and debilitating spiritual wound.
‘We are not a Muslim country but rather a modern, plural, 21st century, multi-religious, multi-cultural and multi-racial secular state in which over 90 million Christians love and adore the great nation of Israel.
‘For Acting President Osinbajo particularly, who lays claim to being a Pastor and a believer, to snub and insult the Jewish state in this way is not only disappointing but also, reprehensible and deeply repugnant. ‘Is his fear of the cabal greater than his fear of God?
‘He knows the spiritual implications of what he has done even if he will not admit to them publicly.
‘The bible says “what profiteth a man to gain the world and lose his soul?” ‘Let us wait and see those implications manifest and the consequences of his action unfold.’
Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode criticised the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, for not attending the 51st ECOWAS Summit of Heads of State and Government, which took place on Saturday.
The summit held in Liberia’s capital, Monrovia, afford the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo the opportunity to meet with Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who was in attendance. Femi Fani_kayode & President Buhari Femi Fani-Kayode in a statement said the boycotting of the 51st ECOWAS Summit of Heads of State and Government marked the beginning of the end for Buhari/Osinbajo government.
He lamented that for Osinbajo to have snubbed and insulted the Jewish state was not only disappointing but also, reprehensible and deeply repugnant and that Nigeria is ‘not a Muslim country but rather a modern, plural, 21st century, multi-religious, multi-cultural and multi-racial secular state in which over 90 million Christians love and adore the great nation of Israel.
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| Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (2-L) looks on as Liberia's President and ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) Chairperson Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (R) speaks during the ECOWAS summit on June 4, 2017 in Monrovia. | AFP/Zoom Dosso/Getty Images |
‘Mark this: the boycotting of the ECOWAS Heads of Government meeting with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu by the Buhari/Osinbajo government marks the beginning of the end for them.
‘It may also mark the beginning of the end for Nigeria. It has resulted in a deep and debilitating spiritual wound.
‘We are not a Muslim country but rather a modern, plural, 21st century, multi-religious, multi-cultural and multi-racial secular state in which over 90 million Christians love and adore the great nation of Israel.
‘For Acting President Osinbajo particularly, who lays claim to being a Pastor and a believer, to snub and insult the Jewish state in this way is not only disappointing but also, reprehensible and deeply repugnant. ‘Is his fear of the cabal greater than his fear of God?
‘He knows the spiritual implications of what he has done even if he will not admit to them publicly.
‘The bible says “what profiteth a man to gain the world and lose his soul?” ‘Let us wait and see those implications manifest and the consequences of his action unfold.’
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