Was Lanre Shittu sold out by Obasanjo's government to U.S. law enforcement agencies?
By Jonathan Elendu
It's been reported that Alhaji Lanre Shittu, the owner of Lanre Shittu Motors, a company situated on Western Avenue, Surulere-Lagos is in New York. Why is it a story that is newsworthy? What is our business with a Lagos motor dealer visiting New York? The Alhaji is not visiting New York; he is an unwilling guest of the American government. United States drug enforcement officers with the connivance of the Nigerian government abducted the man from Nigeria. Extradition? Nonsense!
Lanre Shittu was standing trial before a Lagos High Court. He has been in detention for many years at the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency. To the best of my knowledge, his businesses have been closed down for years, in accordance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I have no problems with that. If the man is a drug dealer he should face the full extent of the law.
I am outraged by reports that he was abducted by American Security men from detention in Nigeria after a court appearance. It is an outrage that President Obasanjo would approve American Drug Law Enforcement personnel taking a Nigerian out of the country to stand trial in America while he is still standing trial in a Nigerian court. This is a rape on our sovereignty and must not be condoned.
The National Assembly must probe this incident.
A few days after the last Presidential elections in Nigeria, I had discussions with a Nigerian diplomat in Europe. We talked about the Presidential elections and the failure of Dr. Alex Ekwueme to clinch the PDP nomination. The diplomat told me Ekwueme would not have won the Presidency even if the Peoples Democratic Party had nominated him. I reminded the man that I lived in Nigeria then and I knew the mood of the people. He asked if I knew what the moods of America and Europe was? I replied that I didn't care what their moods were. The guy smiled. I pressed for explanations. He told me that America and other Western leaders did not trust Ekwueme. They felt he was too independent and therefore risky. I did not understand what the feelings of Clinton and Tony Blair had to do with Nigeria's internal politics. "Someday you will understand," he replied.
Now I do. And I hate the taste of it. A Nigerian President will pay lip service to the maltreatment of her nationals in foreign countries. Our President has more confidence in a foreign court than our own courts. Clearly President Obasanjo suffers from a high dose of colonial mentality and is increasingly losing his credibility as the commander in chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces. Worse, he flexes muscle on Nigerians, especially the latest human rights abuse of citizens of Okigwe by Nigerian soldiers and police He is a disgrace to the office he holds. The first assignment of our elected officials is to run off to Europe and America to study how to rule us. Last week, Nigeria's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs summoned the British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, to complain about the refusal of visas to members of the Nigerian government and National Assembly. It seems to me some members of Obasanjo's administration are out of sync with the President. The President has sold us cheaply to foreign governments; why should they respect us? Why would they grant visas to us when they can abduct us at will?
Any leader that is worth his salt and understands leadership would put his nation's interest above everything else. What is more paramount than the safety and well-being of the nationals? American Presidents have been willing to go to war to defend the rights of Americans. Inspite of all the extradition treaties America has with other countries, I have not heard that an American has been extradited to another country to stand trial.
Americans believe that their country is the best in the world, despite the imperfections. Americans, big and small, would readily give their lives to protect their country. Irrespective of their feelings towards their President, they would happily go into battle if called. There is every reason for an American to be proud of America. He knows his leaders would not sell him out to other countries. The American knows that the system, though imperfect, works.
To this day, the Nigerian National Anthem arouses deep emotions in me. I have never been a member of the Nigerian Armed Forces, yet I find myself standing at attention anytime I hear the National Anthem. Even at the height of the maximum ruler, Sani Abacha, I believed in my country. I did not believe in the Head of State but I would not have hesitated to wear my country's uniform if called upon.
I remember telling friends in Lagos that I would bear arms if
America tried to abduct our Head of State like they did Noriega. I
did not like the Head of State. I believed he was very corrupt. But
he was my Head of State. Obasanjo has lost his respect with me. If he
could sell out Lanre Shittu, he would find sufficient reason to sale
any of us. To your tents....
Elendu is a columnist for NigeriaCentral.com
December 3, 2000
|
These views were
stated during an interview CNN's anchor Bernard Shaw and
senior analyst Jeff Greenfield had with Mr. Nwangwu on
Saturday November 18, 2000 during a special edition of
'Inside Politics 2000.' |
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