United States richest man and
philanthropist, Bill Gates, has cancelled his planned official visit to Nigeria
scheduled for March 27.
Gates’ action, it was believed was
part of an unfolding diplomatic row between the US and Nigeria following the
controversial pardon granted by President Goodluck Jonathan to ex-convicts
Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and Shettima Bulama.
He was scheduled to meet
President Goodluck Jonathan, state governors and officials of the Federal
Ministry of Health on the polio eradication campaign of Bill and
Melinda Gates Foundation.
Diplomatic sources said the trip was
cancelled, two days after the US government expressed disappointment with the
Federal Government for pardoning convicted money launderers.
Gates was reported to have already
instructed his staff to inform the Nigerian Presidency, the secretariat of the
Nigeria Governors’ Forum and the Federal Ministry of Health that he was no
longer coming.
“The State Department has advised him
that Nigeria is not conducive for such visit at this time,” a source
said. “We hope that the Nigerian government will get the message and
return to the path of sanity.”
The controversial pardon granted
Messrs Alamieyeseigha and Bulama had on Friday sparked fierce diplomatic row
between Nigeria and the United States, with the Americans threatening to
punish Nigeria over Jonathan’s action and Nigeria accusing the Americans
of meddlesomeness.
“We see this as a setback for the
fight against corruption, and also for our ability to play the strong role
we’ve played in supporting the rule of law and legal institution-building in
Nigeria, which is very important for the future of the country obviously,”
State Department spokesperson, Victoria Nuland, had told reporters in
Washington.
Gate is the biggest foreign supporter
of the campaign to eradicate polio in Nigeria and has worked consistently with
the Nigerian authorities since 2009 over the matter.
His foundation has developed a
six-year strategy through 2018 that will help combat polio in Nigeria, Pakistan
and Afghanistan and has set aside $1bn per annum for the purpose.
He had scheduled this March’s visit
to consolidate on that alliance, meet with Jonathan, state governors and other
stakeholders with a view to generally revving up the war against the
pandemic.
Director General of the Nigeria
Governors Forum, Mr. Asishana Okauru, said on Monday that the visit had been
rescheduled.
He said, “As far as we are concerned,
the visit has been rescheduled. But I cannot say when that would be. It would
be make known as soon as we get a new date.”
Also, the Minister of Health, Prof.
Onyewuchi Chukwu, said, “I am not privy to Mr. Gate’s itinerary”
Spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Mr. Ogbole Ahmedu-Ode said he was not aware of the visit.
Meanwhile, a civil society
organisation, Anti-Corruption Network, on Monday reacted to the cancellation of
Gates’ proposed visit to Nigeria.
The Founder/Executive Secretary of
the ACN and former member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dino Melaye, in
an interview with The PUNCH said the President should “realise
that he is President of Nigeria and not the Ijaw nation.”
Melaye said, “This is a demonstration
of a failed government, the world is now a global village. Therefore, no
country can hide under the cover of non-interference on domestic matters to
perpetrate the evil of corruption. This again have exposed the myopic,
porous and parochial advisers of Mr. President. By this unpardonable pardon,
the President has finally announced his romance, marriage and union with corruption.”
Chairman of Coalition Against Corrupt
Leaders, Mr. Debo Adeniran, also said it was an indication that Nigeria was a
failing state.
He said, “This is an indication that
Nigeria is a failed state. Granting amnesty to a criminal, who jumped bail and
declared wanted in saner clime, mocks our sensibility as Nigerians and is also
a slap on the nation where the accused is standing trial.”
Meanwhile, the Presidency on Monday
said it was not true that the planned visit of Gate to Nigeria was cancelled
because of the US opposition to Alamieyeseigha’s pardon.
Presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati,
said this in an interview with State House correspondents.
Abati said contrary to the reports,
his interaction with the Bill and Melinda Foundation showed that the planned
visit was put off because of the inavailability of some partners.
Abati said, “The foundation said that
Mr. Bill Gates’ travels are often dependent on the schedules and availability
of many other people and partners and that in this particular case, because
these other people and partners will not be available at the time he is
presently scheduled to visit Nigeria, they have to reschedule the visit.”
Tags
Politics
Jonathan has deceived me to vote him but that would never happen again. If this polio programe is terminated how can the masses who cannot travel overseas get help. If I were you I woulD resign, yes abati is right bill gate has re- scheduled his visit to 2040. Fools obasi
ReplyDeleteIdont see any thing wrong with Pardon , It Pardon as the name implies, Bill Gate should look for some other excuses
ReplyDeleteEverything is wrong with pardoning a criminal
DeleteWho is deceiving who??? Rescehduled Kor reschedulled ni!!! Mschewwww!!!! D same way d first lady was not ill but travelled to rest....
ReplyDeletePoliticians! They keep playing us like Ludo. Nothing Last forever, they will be a transfer of power someday soon. hope they'll be able to look back and beat their chest for a job well done while in power?
ReplyDeleteI can't just understand the politics of this said to be great country any longer. That man frm Balyesa shld b d least person to b pardoned.
ReplyDeleteThis Jona of a man has realy disappointed Nigerians, its sad. We voted him
ReplyDeleteI expected that Mr. President wud base his decisions on long term consequences esp those that wud have direct effect on the masses. Being I̶̲̥̅̊n̶̲̥̅̊ Τ̣̣ђё NGO world, I knw Bill and Melinda Gates are great donors not only for polio eradication but malaria and HIV. Taking a decision like granting pardon to a man that was voted into gov by his pple, who inturn took monies meant for them and tried to outrun the law is the height of display of a weak governance. Granting that same man a chance to contest again as law-maker shows that we only make plans to go two steps forward as a nation but take fifty steps back I̶̲̥̅̊n̶̲̥̅̊ action. For ♏ε̲̣̣̣̥ , I av been so disappointed I̶̲̥̅̊n̶̲̥̅̊ GEJ's rulership. His promise of Fresh air has only ended up being a strong stench coming from decaying bodies as a result of terrorism down to monies looted daily by unpersecuted and corrupt politicians and public service holders.
ReplyDelete