Mayor Rudy Gulliani stopped in Lagos.

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USA stops ex-mayor, general from South-South Summit over insecurity

By Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba 28/04/2012 02:02:00

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The American Embassy in Nigeria yesterday stopped an ex- Mayor of New York, Ruddy Giuliani and the 17th Chief of Staff of the US, Mike Mullen from attending the South/South Economic Summit in Asaba, the capital of Delta State,citing insecurity.

The Americans were already in Lagos enroute Asaba when officials of the American Embassy advised them against proceeding to the summit venue.

The duo were scheduled to address the forum.

News of the development was broken to the audience at the talks by the Chairman of the Summit Organising Committee and Publisher of ThisDay,Prince Nduka Obaigbena.

A fuming Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State called the action of the American embassy an exaggeration of the security situation in Nigeria.

He wondered why foreign oil workers continue to live in remote locations in the Niger Delta exploiting the nation’s natural resources despite security advisory issued by their respective countries

His words, “If a foreigner thinks Asaba is unsafe, how come foreign expatriates in the oil industry are living in remote villages of Niger Delta where they are exploiting natural resources to their own profit and gains?

“I think before Giuliani left the U.S he was assured of adequate security in Nigeria. For me, this issue of insecurity is being over exaggerated by the West and our foreign partners. I am not saying we don’t have the problem but it is not peculiar to the country.

“When New York was bombed, did people stop travelling to U.S? People were still going there, that did not deter them. But what they are doing now is giving the dog a bad name in order to hang it.

“I think the West and our development partners should review their strategies for the mutual benefit in the partnership. And as leaders of the country, there is need for us to stress our advantage .For instance we have a population of over 150 million people.

“And one is further puzzled that the West is complaining about the safety of their nationals in Nigeria and thus have undertaken a policy of withdrawing their citizens, how come they continue to import their goods into our country because there is a market here.”

Oshiomhole also took on commercial banks for the high interest rates,saying this is a disincentive to economic development of the nation.

The South South governors,rising from the summit,called for the unbundling of the Federal Government operational structures with a view to making the centre less attractive.

It is also to make government devote more attention to security.

Besides,the governors recommended the diversification of the nation’s economy.

Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom,speaking for the forum, said: “The system we have now has a structural defect; we have too much agencies. The Federal Government must unbundle the agencies and focus on development.

“ If the centre is too attractive, we will continue to have the malaise that we have been having since the past 50 years.

“We must unbundle the Federal Government; we must have revenue formula that gives more money to the states and the local governments. The Federal Government must lessen its weight; it must remove itself from what can be done by the states and local governments and focus on development. “

He challenged the Federal Government to resolve the issue of insecurity in the country, especially the menace of the Boko Haram sect, saying “if there was bombing in London and it was brought to an end; if there was 911 in the US and it was brought to an end , we will like to see Boko Haram brought to an end in six months.”