As the ongoing Disapora Conference titled: US-Nigeria Business, Trade and Investment Forum at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, 2600 Woodley Road, NW Washington, D.C. USA entered the second day on Saturday, the federal government of Nigeria has called on its US counterpart to intensify its supports to finally eradicate terrorism and insecurity in the country.
According to a note by the Nigerian Embassy in Washington DC during a session of the US-Nigeria Trade and Investment Forum, the Nigerian government welcomes all the kinds of strategies of the American government to eradicate insecurity in Nigeria but added that it would not support the designation of the Islamic Sect as an FTO by the US Department of States.
Furthermore, the note said that the United States government should forget the plan to list Boko Haram as a foreign terrorist group, stressing that such designation would elevate the status of the terrorist group worldwide.
It pressed further that the federal government of Nigeria does not want the designation so as to avoid unneccesary embarrassment, humiliation and scrutinity of Nigerians citizens from United States immigration authorities.
The note further stated that the Goodluck Jonathan-led administration is capable to contain the activities of Boko Haram and those behind the deadly attacks carried out by members of the Islamic Sect in the Northern parts of the country.
Saying that the federal government of Nigeria will not relent in its efforts to ensure adequate security for foreigners and its own citizens, the Embassy of Nigeria also assured foreign investors in the United States and across the world to always see Nigeria as a safe place to do their investments.
The mission also advised foreign investors to shun all the threats being made by the leaders of Boko Haram, noting that the security agencies in Nigeria are doing everything to checkmate and put all the activities of the terrorist group under control.
It added that the US-Nigeria Bi-National Commission is really working out strategies to ensure that insecurity becomes a thing of the past in Nigeria.
The note stated that a number of issues bordering on the implementation of the Nigeria United States Binational Commission (BNC) especially the regional security component are being discussed by both countries everytime, stressing that the US government is very much concerned about the security challenges that the nation has been facing in recent times.
In his own speech at the event, the Chairman of the Planning Committee, Mr. Ekechukwu Franklin, said that the strength of Nigeria lies in its citizen's diversity, noting that diaspora Nigerians can make significant contributions to Nigeria, develop effective modes through programs, policies, and advocacy for Nigerians abroad to harness their talents, expertise, and resources for Nigeria's development and nation building.
Ekechukwu pressed further that NIDO Americas believes that the overriding framework and philosophy resonates with every Nigerian man, woman, and organization abroad and sets the foundation for a profound opportunity to unite, collaborate, and effect needed change in Nigeria and beyond.
His words: “”The Nigerian experiment was made to destabilize Africa as a whole they insisted. Having heard the point and seen what is happening in our country today, one cannot avoid agreeing with them to a certain extent, but what my proponent forgot to mention or remind us is that the experiment is not yet finished; it is still on-going.
“Although patriotic in their unique way some citizens continue to sell fear and discord in the country hence making the Nigerian experiment to be tested over, and over and over and over again. If it is true that the original intent is to keep us fighting with one another, then I believe the world never imagined the resilient of the people that were brought together to fail. That each time we find ourselves on the edge of the precipice, we tend to seek the centre.”
“We are all these and more however, the proponents claim that the fundamental is flawed because our Country was never planned to remain as one or be at peace with each other”
“If it is true that the original intent is to keep us fighting with one another, then I believe the world never imagined the resilient of the people that were brought together to fail. That each time we find ourselves on the edge of the precipice, we tend to seek the centre.
Then I asked you again, Is the fundamental of our people flawed?”
“The Answer is capital “NO”. We as a country have been endowed with heavenly riches. Riches in all aspects of human imaginable but our greatest asset is the people, we are blessed with human capacity greater than any country in the world”
“We are the most beautiful people in the world, the most talented and the most intelligent people filled with mountainous Ego. We are proud people. Where some see these characteristics as weakness, I see them as our strength”
“How can we harness our strength to Nigeria advantage?? We can harness our strength to our advantage by putting country first, Nigeria before tribe or self. We can do that by seeking and seeing the goodness in each and every one of us as people. Seeking that, that unites us than that, that divides us”