- Dr. Gary K. Busch
There is a lot of wahala as a result of the foolish attempt of a spoiled Nigerian boy to blow up an airliner on its way to Detroit. This has provoked a serious and sustained effort by the US and European authorities to prevent such a thing from happening again so they have established strict controls over Nigerians travelling through their airports.
In the Caribbean this is called "under heavy manners" (like the reggae song by Prince Far 1.). The authorities are clamping down on Nigerian travellers; forcing the good and the innocent into the same routines as the guilty and the conspiratorial. This has outraged many in Nigeria and they have made complaints and sent delegations to the US Embassy to register their protests.
This has provoked bewilderment on the part of the US authorities; bewilderment at how the Nigerians see themselves as opposed to how the world sees Nigerians. The US has had nothing but trouble tying to establish a mature relationship with the Nigerian authorities for years. In the recent lawsuits with Halliburton, Siemens, "Dollar Bill" Jefferson to name a few the Nigerian authorities have refused to assist the US in its prosecutions even though there is an agreed protocol to do so and some of the key perpetrators are prominent Nigerian officials. The Nigerian Attorney-General has blocked these prosecutions, lied and misled investigators and has done everything in his power to frustrate justice. He has done the same with the Ibori cases in the UK.
There is no one to talk to at the Embassy in Washington. There is no ambassador. The last one was sent back because his son was allegedly involved in a gang-rape in Maryland. His predecessor was recalled because of outrageous racial remarks which offended everyone. The one before is under indictment for selling embassy property and personal involvement in the Jefferson case. To whom should the US address its complaints? Should it contact Nigeria's President who has been in medical purdah for over a month' the Black Pimpernel of Katsina who signs budgets without assuming material form?
When teams of investigators rushed to Nigeria to follow up leads on the bomber's trail of contacts they were met with hostility and stonewalled by Nigerian security and legal representatives. Now Maduekwe, the Foreign Minister, has read a demarche to Ambassador Robin Sanders complaining that the US actions against Nigerians are too harsh. This is preposterous. However Nigerians may see themselves they are viewed differently abroad. There are few jails anywhere in the world which don't host Nigerian drug mules. The 419 scandals are indelibly etched on the minds of their potential victims. Yet these same 419ers are invited to Nigerian embassy functions and given the legitimacy afforded by introductions made by Nigerian officials and ambassadors. Just this week the US petitioned the Nigerians for more information on Alhaji Buruji Kashamu who is a drug baron and fugitive from the US as well as being the Godfather of Ogun State. No assistance has yet been given.
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