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Human Rights Abuse: We Are Not Answerable To US, UK Govts – Presidency

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Presidency Calls Bluff Of US, UK Govts

The presidency of Nigeria has told the UK and US governments to focus on issues of their own rather than poke noses in issues about Nigeria.

This position was revealed by Mr. Femi Adesina, media aide to President Muhammadu Buhari while answering a question on the federal government’s position to the perception of the international community on cases of human rights abuse leveled against the current administration.

It will be recalled that some foreign nations including the UK and the US had in the wake of the recent saga between the DSS and Omoyele Sowore, called for the Buhari administration to respect the rule of law and uphold democracy.

In his response, however, Mr. Adesina noted that Nigeria is a sovereign nation that can not be bothered about the reports from the United States, United Kingdom, and European Union.

He made the declaration on Wednesday when he featured on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme.

“We are not answerable to the US, the UK or the EU. We are Nigeria, a sovereign country,” he said.

Those countries and entities have issues of their own. Let them deal with their issues. Let Nigeria also deal with its internal issues. We are not answerable to them. If the perception is not right, why do you need to get worried? The perception is not right.

“It doesn’t get anybody worried. The president knows the truth about what is happening in the country, so no need for any worries or agitation.”

He described the editorial by Punch as well as the ultimatum issued by 14 civil society groups as the opinion of a minority, adding that the government won’t be distracted.

“But the question is who are these people and how many are they among about 200 million people? Who are they?” he asked.

“A tiny but vocal minority who will always complain. If they mistakenly get to heaven, they will complain about the conditions in heaven.

“So why do you worry yourself about those set of people? When you talk of the media, you are speaking as if there is a unanimity among them. No, you have a minimum of 15 major newspapers in the country and you have other smaller ones, 100 of them.

“There is no unanimity that there is repression in the land, disregard of the rule of law. So, if one of them comes out to say that, it is just an opinion. It has a right to it, nobody will begrudge them.

“How many people do they amount to? We can’t begin to take the minority to represent the majority.”

The presidential media aide, however, gave assurances that the government was ready to consider and review genuine issues.

“Only if they are genuine issues, they will always be looked into,” he said.

“We have had instances in which the government had to reverse itself because there were concerns raised. It shows that the government is responsive but you cannot listen to a babble of voices and want to answer everyone. It will distract you from what you are doing. You let them have their say.”