The Nigerian government has said that the country is not and cannot be a failed state. The response is a reply to 2 American Diplomat who described the nation as a failed state.
In a chat with select Journalists in Abuja on Thursday, the country’s Information and Culture Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed disclosed that the failed state status is just the figment of the imagination of the Diplomats and their co travelers.
“Let me say straight away that Nigeria is not and cannot be a failed state. This declaration does not represent an official US policy, but merely the opinions of two persons, former US Ambassador to Nigeria and a Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations John Campbell, and the President Emeritus of World Peace Foundation, Robert Rotberg”.
The Minister said declaring any nation a failed state is not done at the whims and caprices of one or two persons, no matter their status.
Alhaji Mohammed said just because Nigeria is facing security challenges, which it has acknowledged and at the same time tackling, does not automatically make the country a failed state.
“Yes, the Council on Foreign Relations is a prominent US public policy Think Tank, but its their opinion and not that of the US. Like former US Senator Daniel Moynihan said, ”You are entitled to your opinion but not your facts”
The Minister argued that Nigeria today does not meet the criteria for a nation to become a failed state. He further revealed that to be a failed state, includes your inability to provide public service and inability to interact with other states as a full member of the international community.
He said in respect of insecurity in some parts of the country, the non-state actors may be rampaging in some parts; they have not and cannot overwhelm the government.
According to him, for anyone to declare Nigeria a failed state on the basis of its security challenges is preposterous.
“In any case, this is not the first time we will be told that Nigeria will fail or break up. We were even once told that Nigeria would break up in 2015. But their doomsday predictions have all failed and will fail again.”
Fake news
Responding to a question about the assassination of the Registrar of NECO, the Minister said it was all fake news.
He decried the manner in which the purveyors of fake news circulated the wrong information. “Without mincing words, the action of Prof. Chidi Odinkalu is the height of irresponsibility that is at variance with someone of his pedigree.
“His tweet is a clear case of fake news that could have caused a breach of public peace. And I am told this is not the first time he is engaging in this kind of action, just like many others like him.”
The Minister said It was reported that the police, the family and NECO confirmed that Prof. Obioma died after a brief illness, contrary to the fake news that was willfully tweeted by Prof Odinkalu.
“When we described fake news and misinformation as a clear and present danger, many felt we were exaggerating. Now, this problem that we have been campaigning against since 2017 has now become a monster that may not be easily tamed.
We will continue to call out all those who engage in disseminating fake news and misinformation. Eventually, the laws of the land will catch up with them” he said.
Emmanuel Ukoh
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