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NigerianNews
Editorial
The
Hands were stained to everyone's horror before asylum.
Editorial Opinions
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The
hands were stained to everyone's horror before asylum.
NigerianNews
Editorial
The
headlines all over the Newspapers and online news yesterday focused on
how some more powerful States may be mad at Nigeria, and Obasanjo in
particular on the Taylor saga. Some of the comments bother on
speculative journalism tracing Taylor disappearance to Zimbabwe, and
even Venezuela, with the Nigerian government connivance.
We must first of all praise those who decide not to play politics with
this tragedy by making this issue personal. We Africans are different
from other people, we are very poor and down-trodden, yet our words
are our bond. We do not double talk, and we always seal a deal with
credible handshakes. At least, those were the ways they were with our
forebears, and before the advent of foreign influence and diplomacy.
So it was, that Nigeria with the consent of those who now want to
renounce this solemn promise, agreed to give Taylor an asylum in
Nigeria to advance peace in Liberia. It was an asylum backed by all
vociferous gladiators now wishing it repealed.
The United States seemed to hope that once Taylor was bundled into
Nigeria, it was a matter of time before they would wring and twist the
hands of the President until he gives Taylor up. This is precisely a
problem for African ethics. Once you make a deal, it becomes stamped
in the collective conscience of the deal makers in our own part of the
world.
There are those in Nigeria who will see this escape as another
Obasanjo's ploy for his third term skim, however, we must find another
way to carry on our political differences, this is not our fight. The
United States for some reasons, is determined to get Taylor for his
past misdeeds to her national interest, and so she focuses on Taylor's
bloody and brutal hands in the war in Liberia in justifying her desire
to get Taylor. However, any miscalculated action based on
shortsightedness may close the door on future peace making when you
sacrifice your solemn oath to expediency. It is with this in mind
that we ask the term of the asylum that brought Taylor to Nigeria be
made public. If the terms of this asylum guarantee Taylor's
undisturbed stay in Nigeria with American knowledge and acquiescence,
then we must stay justified with our African tradition of honoring our
words. We will then have to hope our friends will respect us and move
on. If this means Obasanjo is not welcomed at the White House today,
so be it, for obedience to promise is better than sacrifice and to
hearken than the fat of ram that a visit to the White House brings.
We just hope, even with our poverty in Africa, we position ourselves
in place of honor. The hands of Taylor are bloody, but we saw those
hands when the promises of asylum were made. This is the issue, and
please let us not use this to fight the "Third Term"
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"If
the terms of this asylum guarantee
Taylor's
undisturbed stay in Nigeria with American knowledge and
acquiescence, then we must stay justified with our African tradition
of honoring our words. We will then have to hope our friends will
respect us and move on. If this means Obasanjo is not welcomed at
the White House today, so be it, for obedience to promise is better
than sacrifice and to hearken than the fat of ram that a visit to
the White House brings."
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