Ex-United States Secretary of State has
lambasted Nigerian President Goodluck Ebele
Jonathan over corruption in Nigeria and
reckless spending of Nigeria’s oil money
Hillary made this known while speaking in
separate events in New York City.
Clinton said President Jonathan has
squardered Nigeria’s oil resources and has
indirectly aided corruption in the country.
Clinton, who also expressed her anger over the
abducted schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State,
spoke with ABC-TV’s Robin Roberts on
American national television, and also at a
public function organised by the International
Crisis Group.
Later, the former Senator and First Lady
made other critical remarks concerning
Nigeria at a philanthropy parley, as she was
widely quoted by several American media
outlets, including CNN.
Clinton stated the following position in the
New York events she attended, challenging the
credibility and quality of the country’s
leadership under President Jonathan’s watch.
“The seizure of these young women by this
radical, extremist group, Boko Haram, is
abominable, it’s criminal, it’s an act of
terrorism, and it really merits the fullest
response possible, first and foremost from the
government of Nigeria,” Clinton told ABC-TV.
“The government of Nigeria has been, in my
view, somewhat derelict in its responsibility
toward protecting boys and girls, men and
women in northern Nigeria over the last
years,” she said.
“The Nigerian government must accept help –
particularly intelligence, surveillance and
recognizance help – their troops have to be the
ones that (are) necessary, but they could do a
better job if they accept the offers that are
being made. Nigeria has made bad choices, not
hard choices,” Clinton said, parroting the name
of her forthcoming memoir.
“They have squandered their oil wealth; they
have allowed corruption to fester, and now
they are losing control of parts of their (own)
territory because they would not make hard
choices,” she went on to say.
“The Nigerian government has failed to
confront the threat, or to address the
underlying challenges. Most of all, the
government of Nigeria needs to get serious
about protecting all of its citizens and
ensuring that every child has the right and
opportunity to go to school,” she said in her
address to the function organised by the
International Crisis Group.
“Every asset and expertise should be brought
to bear. Everyone needs to see this for what it
is, it is a gross human rights abuse, but it is
also part of a continuing struggle within
Nigeria and within North Africa,” she added
forcefully.
No comments:
Post a Comment