Nigeria's authorities are worried about increasing forgery
Nigeria is introducing a chip-based e-passport to check growing cases of forgery and identity theft, the immigration chief says.
"People have been tampering with the data page of our current passport," Chukwura Udeh told the BBC.
"We found out that some fraudulent people often peel off the data page of the passports and substitute pictures of the genuine owners with fake ones."
President Umaru Yar'Adua and some MPs have been issued new e-passports.
The new e-passport has an embedded microchip that stores personal information of the holder, Mr Udeh said.
Other Nigerians wishing to exchange their current passports for the new electronic one will have to pay an administrative fee of 8,500 naira ($67).
"The e-passport has the advantage of having the biometric data of the holder encrypted in the microchip embedded somewhere in the passport, making it impossible to tamper with," Mr Udeh told the BBC's Network Africa programme.
The Nigeria Immigration Service says it plans to phase out the machine-readable passport currently in use and replace it with the new electronic one.
But Mr Udeh says even the new one is not entirely foolproof.
"We are not saying that it is 100% foolproof, but it is a veritable tool for fighting the problems associated with the older machine-readable passport," he says.
Thursday, 9 August 2007
A Visit to the Nigerian Embassy in Hungary
by Hakeem Babalola
The only time I love going to the Embassy of Nigeria in Hungary is whenever it has to do with my writings. And I have done that a couple of times. My first encounter with our friends at the Embassy was in 1994 when I was doing a news story about 419 scam, which was just gaining momentum in Hungary then. It would later soil Nigeria’s image here in the Danube area. I remember I was initially verbally accused of collaborating with the foreign media to discredit Nigeria, although the then first secretary, Ayo Otepola, eventually granted me an interview.
Meanwhile, I simply detest asking our Embassy for any services even though as a Nigerian, it’s my prerogative to get such services. The services I have in mind include authentication of photocopy of my original birth certificate obtained 13 days after I was born in 19XX, and the fee paid was One Shilling. I need it to process my child’s further staying permit. I had misplaced the original. But there’s no way any reasonable and apt Nigerian official would doubt the genuineness of my precious document.
Yet my mind refused to have a blissful peace just because I must authenticate this document at my Embassy before it could be accepted for translation into Hungarian. I had experienced similar growing scepticism in December 2006 when I must go to my Embassy to collect a certified document stating that our child is Nigerian. Until then "the" child status shall remain stateless – at least as Hungarian government is concerned.
In both cases it turned out that such scepticism was purely based on my imagination. This is because I was attended to and got both documents without much hassle under the supervision of two Madams – Ester Ogundipe and G.C Sani respectively. My experience is however, maybe contrary to what many of our compatriots encounter at the Embassy here in Hungary.
Nigerians who bear the Embassy a grudge and would hold it for years are those with the so-called proxy passports. These Nigerians cannot fit themselves into the web of social life unless they first cross the hurdle of proxy passport. As each day wax, they dream of that delusive moment when the Nigerian Ministry of Internal affairs would find it significant to ship the Machine Readable Passport (MRP) to Hungary.
Although the MRP will cease to be an authorised travel document in July 2008 when it will be replaced by the recently introduced Harmonised ECOWAS e-passport, Nigerians wishing to get married to Hungarians must first present it before their Embassy could issue a clearance certificate for nuptial bliss. Such certificates had been issued to many Nigerians until recently when holders of proxy passport are exempted.
It should be noted that Hungarian Immigration has zero tolerance for proxy passport, a clampdown which often delays Nigerians at the port of entry. Yours truly constantly experience such delays. It may take twenty to thirty minutes before establishing the genuineness of a Nigerian passport at the Hungarian airport. Many Nigerian proxy passports have also being seized.
So on that bright Tuesday morning off I went to the Embassy having booked an appointment with the consular. After the friendly looking security had satisfied that I was not concealing any weapon of mass destruction, he ushered me in – to the waiting room. I met another Nigerian and we greeted each other.
Fifteen minutes later, the consular came to the room, pointing to me that I must be the person who talked to her on the phone about authentication of... "birth certificate," I helped her finish the sentence. I was greatly impressed by her memory, after all, there are tens of Nigerians calling this Embassy everyday. Besides, I have always heard bad comments about our officials. Isn’t it food for reflection if I had to be impressed simply because madam was doing her job?
She then moved towards where I was sitting, sat beside me and inspected my document. I was right when I said earlier that no competent Nigerian official would doubt my birth certificate, for it was written on her face. There was no need to challenge its authenticity, so Madam just offered me various ways to do it. She talked about Hungarians with so much exactitude that surprised John Chukwu and I. Here is our Madam who barely spent four months and has already known what took most of us years to understand.
Another Nigerian who was accompanied by a white lady whom I later discovered to be his fiancee had joined us immediately Madam left. He greeted us with compatriot handshake. Then we engaged in discussion based on the image of Nigeria. We chatted about the ministry of internal affairs inability to provide MRP to the Embassy in Hungary. We talked about Hungary’s joining Schengen Staten soon which means free border; and those with proxy passports would be able to go to Austria to authenticate them.
John Chukwu whose passport had been seized by the Hungarian Immigration seemed satisfied with the newly promoted first secretary, Miss Aiyenuro, who attended to him. I was happy to part with 30 dollars for the service rendered to me. Only Obinna Maduewesi who holds proxy passport and until now may not be able to wed his fiancee, was dissatisfied and furious.
As I left the Embassy, I prayed for Obinna – such a young guy. And I lost in deep thought: is Madam being nice or simply doing her job? Does she know that I’m a newspaper boy who must write? Or is it simply the beginning of a new era at our Embassy in Hungary? It’s too early for me to jump into conclusion but I shall have my ear to the ground.
The only time I love going to the Embassy of Nigeria in Hungary is whenever it has to do with my writings. And I have done that a couple of times. My first encounter with our friends at the Embassy was in 1994 when I was doing a news story about 419 scam, which was just gaining momentum in Hungary then. It would later soil Nigeria’s image here in the Danube area. I remember I was initially verbally accused of collaborating with the foreign media to discredit Nigeria, although the then first secretary, Ayo Otepola, eventually granted me an interview. Meanwhile, I simply detest asking our Embassy for any services even though as a Nigerian, it’s my prerogative to get such services. The services I have in mind include authentication of photocopy of my original birth certificate obtained 13 days after I was born in 19XX, and the fee paid was One Shilling. I need it to process my child’s further staying permit. I had misplaced the original. But there’s no way any reasonable and apt Nigerian official would doubt the genuineness of my precious document.
Yet my mind refused to have a blissful peace just because I must authenticate this document at my Embassy before it could be accepted for translation into Hungarian. I had experienced similar growing scepticism in December 2006 when I must go to my Embassy to collect a certified document stating that our child is Nigerian. Until then "the" child status shall remain stateless – at least as Hungarian government is concerned.
In both cases it turned out that such scepticism was purely based on my imagination. This is because I was attended to and got both documents without much hassle under the supervision of two Madams – Ester Ogundipe and G.C Sani respectively. My experience is however, maybe contrary to what many of our compatriots encounter at the Embassy here in Hungary.
Nigerians who bear the Embassy a grudge and would hold it for years are those with the so-called proxy passports. These Nigerians cannot fit themselves into the web of social life unless they first cross the hurdle of proxy passport. As each day wax, they dream of that delusive moment when the Nigerian Ministry of Internal affairs would find it significant to ship the Machine Readable Passport (MRP) to Hungary.
Although the MRP will cease to be an authorised travel document in July 2008 when it will be replaced by the recently introduced Harmonised ECOWAS e-passport, Nigerians wishing to get married to Hungarians must first present it before their Embassy could issue a clearance certificate for nuptial bliss. Such certificates had been issued to many Nigerians until recently when holders of proxy passport are exempted.
It should be noted that Hungarian Immigration has zero tolerance for proxy passport, a clampdown which often delays Nigerians at the port of entry. Yours truly constantly experience such delays. It may take twenty to thirty minutes before establishing the genuineness of a Nigerian passport at the Hungarian airport. Many Nigerian proxy passports have also being seized.
So on that bright Tuesday morning off I went to the Embassy having booked an appointment with the consular. After the friendly looking security had satisfied that I was not concealing any weapon of mass destruction, he ushered me in – to the waiting room. I met another Nigerian and we greeted each other.
Fifteen minutes later, the consular came to the room, pointing to me that I must be the person who talked to her on the phone about authentication of... "birth certificate," I helped her finish the sentence. I was greatly impressed by her memory, after all, there are tens of Nigerians calling this Embassy everyday. Besides, I have always heard bad comments about our officials. Isn’t it food for reflection if I had to be impressed simply because madam was doing her job?
She then moved towards where I was sitting, sat beside me and inspected my document. I was right when I said earlier that no competent Nigerian official would doubt my birth certificate, for it was written on her face. There was no need to challenge its authenticity, so Madam just offered me various ways to do it. She talked about Hungarians with so much exactitude that surprised John Chukwu and I. Here is our Madam who barely spent four months and has already known what took most of us years to understand.
Another Nigerian who was accompanied by a white lady whom I later discovered to be his fiancee had joined us immediately Madam left. He greeted us with compatriot handshake. Then we engaged in discussion based on the image of Nigeria. We chatted about the ministry of internal affairs inability to provide MRP to the Embassy in Hungary. We talked about Hungary’s joining Schengen Staten soon which means free border; and those with proxy passports would be able to go to Austria to authenticate them.
John Chukwu whose passport had been seized by the Hungarian Immigration seemed satisfied with the newly promoted first secretary, Miss Aiyenuro, who attended to him. I was happy to part with 30 dollars for the service rendered to me. Only Obinna Maduewesi who holds proxy passport and until now may not be able to wed his fiancee, was dissatisfied and furious.
As I left the Embassy, I prayed for Obinna – such a young guy. And I lost in deep thought: is Madam being nice or simply doing her job? Does she know that I’m a newspaper boy who must write? Or is it simply the beginning of a new era at our Embassy in Hungary? It’s too early for me to jump into conclusion but I shall have my ear to the ground.
Sunday, 5 August 2007
Police Indiscriminate Arrest of Women in Lagos
by Hakeem Babalola
In their search for a scapegoat, the police found an easy target in our women. Whereas women and children, apart from protecting the citizens in general, must be given exceptional treatment, according to the Police Act. Rather than undertake the danger imposed by armed robbers however, the Lagos State Police seem satisfied with capturing and arresting "whores" and, or ladies dressed in "skimpy" clothes along the streets of Lagos.
Before our stern moralists, especially Pastor Enoch Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God who has just banned female members from wearing trousers, start preaching the gospels, I’d like to say the issue is beyond being morally pure on the part of the arrested citizens. It’s like obtaining public money under false pretences for a lost cause. It’s about the police mocking the law they suppose to enforce. It’s about police immorality and irresponsibility. It’s about abusing the uniform meant for protection.
There’s nothing wrong for the police to conduct a routine check, which of course must be an exercise to protect the society from the menace of muggers. Anything different from this would have defeated the purpose. Equally significant is the manner in which such routine check must be carried out, an area in which the Lagos Police goofed. The officers appear to be more concerned about harassing, embarrassing, and intimidating ladies during such exercise.
"Their vehicle stopped beside me and they pushed me into it," recalls Mrs. Chiegozie Albert, a mother of two who was arrested along Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, Ikeja. "They call me Asewo (prostitute) because I was wearing jeans trousers and open top. I told them that I am a housewife but they didn’t listen to me. They took me to their Ikeja station and detained me along with other ladies; it was my husband who learnt of my arrest who came to bail me. He paid #5,000 before I was released".
Of course those who could not grease the officers’ pilfering palm ended up being prosecuted for disturbing the "public peace". Although the importance of law enforcement agents cannot be overlooked in our society, such nobility could only fascinate us if only we are protected as the profession dictates. Parading these women like criminals terribly violates their rights as a human. This is simply not the way to purify Lagos or Nigeria at large.
At the risk of of being accused of hearsay, I certainly believe Mrs Albert even though I was not there. Her experience much the same of what I had witnessed as an insider. The Nigeria Police are simply brutal when it comes to discharging what suppose to be their duties. Perhaps it’s the uniform, perhaps it’s frustration, perhaps it’s low self-esteem. I can’t just pinpoint what could be responsible for incessant disgrace by our law enforcement officers.
The Lagos Police Command went on rampage chasing sex workers, housewives, students, blue collar workers, and in doing so sexually violated these women: a textile worker at Oshodi, two sisters returning from their village, female youths accused of dressing indecently and so on. And in fact PMNEWS investigations revealed that many innocent Lagosians were detained by the police due to indiscriminate arrest on the road.
How would right thinking Nigerians describe a scenario of this nature? "At night, some of them (Police) will come and start touching our breasts," says Chinwe Okorie. "And I was not a prostitute but they wouldn’t listen".
I mean even if these women are hookers, does it give the police the right to touch their breasts? What minds these mortals possess? What is happening to our police? Bail me out please. Whilst I commend the arrest of some 95 women for alleged human trafficking during the raid, the innocents must be released immediately with compensation.
Gosh, when an organisation that suppose to protect us officially becomes the one that eventually thwarts or frustrates or impedes our exactitude, then we’re dead – and this is not figurative language. I believe there’s no other act that can paralyse citizens than when a government violates our dignity as in the case of these women. And I am subjectively insinuating here of the possibility that the women were prone to rape in police dark dungeon.
It is even easier for the victims of armed robbers or rapists to get over the trauma than when the police use their uniform to either physically and, or sexually violates them under the inauspicious camouflage of arresting prostitutes. Is there not a law that guides such exercise? Should the police continuously use their uniform to perpetrate sexual harassment?
On behalf of these helpless ladies, I entreat the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, M.D Abubakar, to tread the path of honour. While his assurance to fight crime with might is commendable, his method of indiscriminately arresting women is not. Let him know that his gra...gra method by embarrassing and intimidating women won’t work; it can only backfire.
Finally, it is also good that Abubakar had instructed his officers to wake up from their slumber. However, they should go about their business without making our women a whipping boy. This is one message the new Commissioner of Police must put at the back of his determined mind with unflagging courtesy and pursuit of excellence.
"At night, some of them (Police) will come and start touching our breasts," says Chinwe Okorie. Another witness: "I told them that I am a housewife but they didn’t listen to me. They took me to their Ikeja station and detained me along with other ladies; it was my husband who learnt of my arrest who came to bail me. He paid #5,000 before I was released".
In their search for a scapegoat, the police found an easy target in our women. Whereas women and children, apart from protecting the citizens in general, must be given exceptional treatment, according to the Police Act. Rather than undertake the danger imposed by armed robbers however, the Lagos State Police seem satisfied with capturing and arresting "whores" and, or ladies dressed in "skimpy" clothes along the streets of Lagos.Before our stern moralists, especially Pastor Enoch Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God who has just banned female members from wearing trousers, start preaching the gospels, I’d like to say the issue is beyond being morally pure on the part of the arrested citizens. It’s like obtaining public money under false pretences for a lost cause. It’s about the police mocking the law they suppose to enforce. It’s about police immorality and irresponsibility. It’s about abusing the uniform meant for protection.
There’s nothing wrong for the police to conduct a routine check, which of course must be an exercise to protect the society from the menace of muggers. Anything different from this would have defeated the purpose. Equally significant is the manner in which such routine check must be carried out, an area in which the Lagos Police goofed. The officers appear to be more concerned about harassing, embarrassing, and intimidating ladies during such exercise.
"Their vehicle stopped beside me and they pushed me into it," recalls Mrs. Chiegozie Albert, a mother of two who was arrested along Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, Ikeja. "They call me Asewo (prostitute) because I was wearing jeans trousers and open top. I told them that I am a housewife but they didn’t listen to me. They took me to their Ikeja station and detained me along with other ladies; it was my husband who learnt of my arrest who came to bail me. He paid #5,000 before I was released".
Of course those who could not grease the officers’ pilfering palm ended up being prosecuted for disturbing the "public peace". Although the importance of law enforcement agents cannot be overlooked in our society, such nobility could only fascinate us if only we are protected as the profession dictates. Parading these women like criminals terribly violates their rights as a human. This is simply not the way to purify Lagos or Nigeria at large.
At the risk of of being accused of hearsay, I certainly believe Mrs Albert even though I was not there. Her experience much the same of what I had witnessed as an insider. The Nigeria Police are simply brutal when it comes to discharging what suppose to be their duties. Perhaps it’s the uniform, perhaps it’s frustration, perhaps it’s low self-esteem. I can’t just pinpoint what could be responsible for incessant disgrace by our law enforcement officers.
The Lagos Police Command went on rampage chasing sex workers, housewives, students, blue collar workers, and in doing so sexually violated these women: a textile worker at Oshodi, two sisters returning from their village, female youths accused of dressing indecently and so on. And in fact PMNEWS investigations revealed that many innocent Lagosians were detained by the police due to indiscriminate arrest on the road.
How would right thinking Nigerians describe a scenario of this nature? "At night, some of them (Police) will come and start touching our breasts," says Chinwe Okorie. "And I was not a prostitute but they wouldn’t listen".
I mean even if these women are hookers, does it give the police the right to touch their breasts? What minds these mortals possess? What is happening to our police? Bail me out please. Whilst I commend the arrest of some 95 women for alleged human trafficking during the raid, the innocents must be released immediately with compensation.
Gosh, when an organisation that suppose to protect us officially becomes the one that eventually thwarts or frustrates or impedes our exactitude, then we’re dead – and this is not figurative language. I believe there’s no other act that can paralyse citizens than when a government violates our dignity as in the case of these women. And I am subjectively insinuating here of the possibility that the women were prone to rape in police dark dungeon.
It is even easier for the victims of armed robbers or rapists to get over the trauma than when the police use their uniform to either physically and, or sexually violates them under the inauspicious camouflage of arresting prostitutes. Is there not a law that guides such exercise? Should the police continuously use their uniform to perpetrate sexual harassment?
On behalf of these helpless ladies, I entreat the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, M.D Abubakar, to tread the path of honour. While his assurance to fight crime with might is commendable, his method of indiscriminately arresting women is not. Let him know that his gra...gra method by embarrassing and intimidating women won’t work; it can only backfire.
Finally, it is also good that Abubakar had instructed his officers to wake up from their slumber. However, they should go about their business without making our women a whipping boy. This is one message the new Commissioner of Police must put at the back of his determined mind with unflagging courtesy and pursuit of excellence.
"At night, some of them (Police) will come and start touching our breasts," says Chinwe Okorie. Another witness: "I told them that I am a housewife but they didn’t listen to me. They took me to their Ikeja station and detained me along with other ladies; it was my husband who learnt of my arrest who came to bail me. He paid #5,000 before I was released".
Wednesday, 1 August 2007
Before Her Excellency Meets the Nigerian Community
by Hakeem Babalola
Hum, the Nigerian ambassador to Hungary, Mrs Adeola Adebisi Obileye, has finally agreed to meet with the Nigerian community in Hungary. This is a good gesture. Not long ago we were fed with plethora of news about how she reneged on an earlier promise to meet with the Committee members who had paid her a courtesy visit. In response I had argued that the ambassador may have been justified and then backed it up with evidence in form of satire. I had proposed that the best way for Madam was to address the Nigerian community as a whole and not Caretaker Committee or any union in this regard.
In this piece, I shall rationalize by saying certain individuals have relegated the Nigerian Union to the bottom of the totem pole. I shall argue that the embassy should respect its citizens above any union or club or organization. Then I shall enumerate what the embassy could do for its citizens in the host country. I shall offer suggestions on what the embassy should do in order to reach out to its citizens. Are you with me?
Although I don’t know the reason behind the embassy’s change of heart, it’s definitely a welcome development to hear that Madam is not a rigid disciplinarian. Once upon a time not so long, there was this Nigerian Emperor who was so stubborn like a donkey that he shot himself on the foot despite public plea. Therefore I commend Mrs. Obileye’s change of heart. It is indeed a plot of great ingenuity.
But tarry a little. Is this actually a change of heart? I suppose there was never a time that Madam refused to meet with the Nigerian community. Perhaps we have been sending confusing signals like jumble of road signs. We should endeavour not to confound her refusal to meet with the Committee or Union members with meeting the Nigerian community as a whole. The latter is a must while the former is not. I shall expatiate.
The functions of a diplomatic mission include the representation and protection of the home country and its citizens in the host country. A Nigerian Union or Committee or any union for that matter, being a social or pressure group, may not necessarily represent the interest of the citizens in the host country. Hence such club or union or group may represent its interest but not the Nigerian community. Of course this is an assumption. As far as I am concerned, any worthy ambassador would never miss the opportunity to acquaint him or herself with the citizens in the host country. By citizens I mean Nigerian community as a whole and not executive members of a certain club.
Thus far, I have my reservations about social club claiming service to the people. For example, the argument put forward by a former Nigerian Union executive for having a union is to speak with one voice. Another one exacts that only a Nigerian Union can fight the embassy. Since its genesis, the Nigerian Union neither have spoken with one voice nor successfully fought the Embassy. Instead the embassy has manipulated the executive members of the Nigerian Union. An example is when Emperor Olusegun Okikiolakan Aremu Obasanjo visited Hungary in 2001. The embassy tactically used them to organize a befitting reception for a president that should have been pelted with eggs.
Furthermore, suppose there are many Nigerian Unions in Hungary, does it mean that our
ambassador must meet all of them at different times? How would such ambassador get time? What if a union is formed with the aim to destabilize the home country? Do we expect the embassy to embrace such union? The best thing is to meet with the Nigerian community as a whole without prejudice and without an intermediary. How is the embassy going to inform its citizens? See, this is one of the mistakes the Nigerian embassy in Hungary is making. In this era of Information Technology, this shouldn't cause any problem.
For instance, many Nigerians have registered with their embassy. Isn’t it? What the embassy need do is to create a formidable networking like a website featuring newsletter and events like other Nigerian Missions around the world. There is no need for physical contact or presence before the embassy could embolden its citizens in the areas that matter. Such action would invariably undermine any misinformation or unfounded allegations. This would also release the pressure on any Committee Chairperson or any Union President who might want to work him or herself to the limit in an attempt to look good before the members.
Ironically, certain individuals have relegated the Nigerian Union to the bottom of totem pole. These Nigerians prefer approaching the embassy on their own to going through any union. And it has worked for them. These are individuals who have befriended successive ambassadors or Charge d’ affaires. They are ever present at every occasion being organized by the embassy. There is one whom Ambassador Yomi Akintola inappropriately introduced to Obasanjo in 2001 as a successful scholarship student. Till today, I wonder why such high ranking Nigerian official would consider someone who owes his country big time as being successful.
There is another one who read eulogy during the wake keeping for the late Ambassador Gershon Guyit. (Amb. Guyit’s classification of Nigerians living in Hungary into two – the students and the street ones – angered many). Our departed ambassador had zero tolerance for the "street ones". Anyway, these individuals have become avante-garde of sycophants. Permit my use of hyperbole. They have probably sold their compatriots at a cheap price in order to gain popularity.
They are ever ready to prove the difference; they behave in a manner to twist their nationality. Some of them gloat over having Hungarian citizenship and only remember their original country just when it suits them. Meanwhile they embrace Ambassador Guyit’s dichotomy: I belong not to the street ones. Is such braggadocio necessary in the first place? I predict these lads would not attend the meeting. For what? Hum, yours truly might not attend as well, because, of what purpose is such previous meetings.
Guess what? It seems our embassy has fallen for the slickness of these Nigerians in question. Otherwise no ambassador under any circumstances should classify its citizens into two opposed parts or subclasses. The embassy must endeavour to treat its citizens equally in the host country as long as the latter has given them permission to reside. For instance, though as mundane as it is, ambassador’s inauguration get-together should be open to all Nigerians and not selected few. See, this is the advantage of a formidable Information Technology I mentioned earlier.
Consequently, I am not so naive as to believe the embassy is here to solve one’s immigration problem. That's not its duty and any Nigerian who thinks otherwise must be living in a fool’s paradise. The best our embassy could do for us is to implement a procedure of administration assistance at no exorbitant cost in the areas of document authentication; provides logistics in case of emergency; be aware of the numbers of its citizens in the host country; follow up any unjust persecution of its citizens; and other welfare services. The embassy will have rendered any agitating union or club or organization useless should it embark on this, for there would be nothing left to fight for.
And lastly, unlike political diplomats, I trust Madam Ambassador being a career diplomat would do the right thing without necessarily being nice – to preserve the dignity of Nigeria and its citizens studying or working and living in Magyarország. The bottom line is not the meeting but what happens thereafter.
On this I stand.
2007 Copyright mysmallvoice@yahoo.com
Hum, the Nigerian ambassador to Hungary, Mrs Adeola Adebisi Obileye, has finally agreed to meet with the Nigerian community in Hungary. This is a good gesture. Not long ago we were fed with plethora of news about how she reneged on an earlier promise to meet with the Committee members who had paid her a courtesy visit. In response I had argued that the ambassador may have been justified and then backed it up with evidence in form of satire. I had proposed that the best way for Madam was to address the Nigerian community as a whole and not Caretaker Committee or any union in this regard.In this piece, I shall rationalize by saying certain individuals have relegated the Nigerian Union to the bottom of the totem pole. I shall argue that the embassy should respect its citizens above any union or club or organization. Then I shall enumerate what the embassy could do for its citizens in the host country. I shall offer suggestions on what the embassy should do in order to reach out to its citizens. Are you with me?
Although I don’t know the reason behind the embassy’s change of heart, it’s definitely a welcome development to hear that Madam is not a rigid disciplinarian. Once upon a time not so long, there was this Nigerian Emperor who was so stubborn like a donkey that he shot himself on the foot despite public plea. Therefore I commend Mrs. Obileye’s change of heart. It is indeed a plot of great ingenuity.
But tarry a little. Is this actually a change of heart? I suppose there was never a time that Madam refused to meet with the Nigerian community. Perhaps we have been sending confusing signals like jumble of road signs. We should endeavour not to confound her refusal to meet with the Committee or Union members with meeting the Nigerian community as a whole. The latter is a must while the former is not. I shall expatiate.
The functions of a diplomatic mission include the representation and protection of the home country and its citizens in the host country. A Nigerian Union or Committee or any union for that matter, being a social or pressure group, may not necessarily represent the interest of the citizens in the host country. Hence such club or union or group may represent its interest but not the Nigerian community. Of course this is an assumption. As far as I am concerned, any worthy ambassador would never miss the opportunity to acquaint him or herself with the citizens in the host country. By citizens I mean Nigerian community as a whole and not executive members of a certain club.
Thus far, I have my reservations about social club claiming service to the people. For example, the argument put forward by a former Nigerian Union executive for having a union is to speak with one voice. Another one exacts that only a Nigerian Union can fight the embassy. Since its genesis, the Nigerian Union neither have spoken with one voice nor successfully fought the Embassy. Instead the embassy has manipulated the executive members of the Nigerian Union. An example is when Emperor Olusegun Okikiolakan Aremu Obasanjo visited Hungary in 2001. The embassy tactically used them to organize a befitting reception for a president that should have been pelted with eggs.
Furthermore, suppose there are many Nigerian Unions in Hungary, does it mean that our
ambassador must meet all of them at different times? How would such ambassador get time? What if a union is formed with the aim to destabilize the home country? Do we expect the embassy to embrace such union? The best thing is to meet with the Nigerian community as a whole without prejudice and without an intermediary. How is the embassy going to inform its citizens? See, this is one of the mistakes the Nigerian embassy in Hungary is making. In this era of Information Technology, this shouldn't cause any problem.
For instance, many Nigerians have registered with their embassy. Isn’t it? What the embassy need do is to create a formidable networking like a website featuring newsletter and events like other Nigerian Missions around the world. There is no need for physical contact or presence before the embassy could embolden its citizens in the areas that matter. Such action would invariably undermine any misinformation or unfounded allegations. This would also release the pressure on any Committee Chairperson or any Union President who might want to work him or herself to the limit in an attempt to look good before the members.
Ironically, certain individuals have relegated the Nigerian Union to the bottom of totem pole. These Nigerians prefer approaching the embassy on their own to going through any union. And it has worked for them. These are individuals who have befriended successive ambassadors or Charge d’ affaires. They are ever present at every occasion being organized by the embassy. There is one whom Ambassador Yomi Akintola inappropriately introduced to Obasanjo in 2001 as a successful scholarship student. Till today, I wonder why such high ranking Nigerian official would consider someone who owes his country big time as being successful.
There is another one who read eulogy during the wake keeping for the late Ambassador Gershon Guyit. (Amb. Guyit’s classification of Nigerians living in Hungary into two – the students and the street ones – angered many). Our departed ambassador had zero tolerance for the "street ones". Anyway, these individuals have become avante-garde of sycophants. Permit my use of hyperbole. They have probably sold their compatriots at a cheap price in order to gain popularity.
They are ever ready to prove the difference; they behave in a manner to twist their nationality. Some of them gloat over having Hungarian citizenship and only remember their original country just when it suits them. Meanwhile they embrace Ambassador Guyit’s dichotomy: I belong not to the street ones. Is such braggadocio necessary in the first place? I predict these lads would not attend the meeting. For what? Hum, yours truly might not attend as well, because, of what purpose is such previous meetings.
Guess what? It seems our embassy has fallen for the slickness of these Nigerians in question. Otherwise no ambassador under any circumstances should classify its citizens into two opposed parts or subclasses. The embassy must endeavour to treat its citizens equally in the host country as long as the latter has given them permission to reside. For instance, though as mundane as it is, ambassador’s inauguration get-together should be open to all Nigerians and not selected few. See, this is the advantage of a formidable Information Technology I mentioned earlier.
Consequently, I am not so naive as to believe the embassy is here to solve one’s immigration problem. That's not its duty and any Nigerian who thinks otherwise must be living in a fool’s paradise. The best our embassy could do for us is to implement a procedure of administration assistance at no exorbitant cost in the areas of document authentication; provides logistics in case of emergency; be aware of the numbers of its citizens in the host country; follow up any unjust persecution of its citizens; and other welfare services. The embassy will have rendered any agitating union or club or organization useless should it embark on this, for there would be nothing left to fight for.
And lastly, unlike political diplomats, I trust Madam Ambassador being a career diplomat would do the right thing without necessarily being nice – to preserve the dignity of Nigeria and its citizens studying or working and living in Magyarország. The bottom line is not the meeting but what happens thereafter.
On this I stand.
2007 Copyright mysmallvoice@yahoo.com
Monday, 30 July 2007
We Love Nigeria
by Hakeem Babalola
Love is one passion that can easily be used to swindle people even from their inheritance. And virtually every human believes in the glory of love, though everyone has their own ideas about it. Majority think an unhealthy and compulsive preoccupation is love, while another majority believe temporary love of an adolescent is love itself. Perhaps only a few deeply understand.
The love of our country has been a delicate subject of debate since those featherbrained days when the efforts of colonialists to build a Nigerian elite was pervasive. From that befuddled minds onward, we have had neither a blissful sleep nor a scrumptious food. But we must hail thee Nigeria, telling every goat and chicken our vested mania parlance – patriotism.
If only those cynics would emulate an aura of glamour and prestige with which these "patriots" go about town screaming their love for Nigeria! I must confess however, that I often wonder whether it’s the right thing to do. But that’s my prejudice, for there is true love. Then, must they go to the market with a gong or speaker before professing their true love! What about taking a little surreptitious pleasure in the fact that they know the love they have for Nigeria!
Obsanjo usually flaunts his love for Nigeria, so is Atiku. It is a do-or-die love and, or anarchical flavour of love. Many also profess their love for Nigeria. They love Nigeria but Igilandi jungle their last sleep. By all means they must take their share of Queen Elizabeth’s pudding pound sterling. Should the sons and daughters of a former slave be buried alongside their colonial exploiter?
We love Nigeria. It is enough reason to treat common cold or catarrh, or bruise leg in the land of colonial merchants. Our profound love for Nigeria dictates we must kneel before the White House in Bushland in order to measure our worth. Even die-hard separatists love Nigeria so much their stargaze is to become the president. Let me hear you singing the song – we love Nigeria.
Solomon Lar loves Nigeria too. Lar, the first Governor of Plateau State and Pioneer National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Chief, once declared that any attempt to frustrate the presidential candidate of Atiku out of the last election would be resisted saying, "No Atiku, no April elections". I don’t remember any Nigerian governor or minister or commissioner or local chairwo(man) that swanks not his/her love for Nigeria. To show their wavering love, they must suffocate her by constricting the windpipe.
Yakubu Gowon loves Nigeria, so is Dim Ojukwu. So is Murtala Mohammed, Buka Suka Dimka, Shehu Shagari, Muhammadu Buhari, Tunde Idiagbon, Ibrahim Babangida, Ernest Shonekan, Sani Abacha, Abubakar Abdusalami and of course the new boy. En, when the new boy appointed himself Minister of Petroleum, he was actually telling us: I love Nigeria pass Lord Lugard and Company.
Don’t you see how much they love Nigeria? It was the love they have for Nigeria that turned them adventurers; they joined the army where they passionately protect her from external aggression. And those that did not go to the battlefield showed their own love through polieatics. Common, sing along. We love Nigeria.
Shout hurrah! Because such stark and irresolute love for Nigeria has yielded result, but of course hidden only to the cynics and die hard Momus. For instance, it has smoothed her roads; provide adequate drinkable water; uninterrupted electricity; health care unsurpassed anywhere in the world; excellent education and good communication system; corruption free society and security of lives; and other achievements I can’t mention due to space.
Even thugs and bandits do profess their love for Nigeria. Dr. Ishola Oyenusi, Babatunde Folorunso and Lawrence Anini, remember them? They were the three notorious Nigerian armed robbers who terrorised our minds with impunity just like the ruthless IBB and other military adventurers. They too proclaimed their love for Nigeria before departing to the House of Hades. So is George Iyamu, a divisional police officer who provided Anini with logistic and ammunition.
Lamidi Adedibu of Molete in Ibadan and Chris Uba in Anambra also have Nigeria at the bottom of their innocent hearts. Both men have shown it in thier thinking and behaviour. It was Adedibu who brazenly told the nation that peace would reign in Ibadan only if he Adedibu wanted. The love we have for Nigeria must tolerate Adedibu’s ignoble utterances because, according to the father of modern Nigeria, Adedibu is too old to be reformed. Equally there’s honour among thieves ala Chris Uba.
America also loves Nigeria. So is United Kingdom. So is China, Lebanon and others. America because of her profound love had politely warned us that Nigeria would soon disintegrate. And has since been following that by constantly interfering in our affairs. For instance, America enjoined Nigeria to release Orji Kalu, former Abia State governor, from prison. Is Kalu the only ex-governor being prosecuted by EFCC (The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission)? America is also seeking Translators of Nigerian Languages! What a true love!
But of course, the bard still loves Nigeria, so is the novelist. Niyi Osundare at 60 says he loves Nigeria more than any place in the world including New Orleans where he now resides. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, winner of the U.K Orange Prize for Fiction, at 29 says she loves Nigeria. The author of Purple Hibiscus and Half of a Yellow Sun describes Nigeria further: "it is a vibrant place with wonderful people, a place you love but it’s also a place that sometimes intensely irritates you".
So is Femi Oke, Nigerian by parentage and British by birth. Her passionate love for Nigeria radiates her voice when talking about Nigeria. "The warm thing about the country is that we are very smart, "says the full-time CNN host. "However, there’s so much disconnect about what we have and what we do with it. But I’m glad that wherever we find ourselves, we excel, we are very very enterprising".
I don’t know but it’s Osundare and Adiche and Oke I believe while I discredit other individuals mentioned in this article. Ironically, the three are living abroad. Perhaps it’s sincerity in their tones I have fallen for. "Nigeria is a place I love but also a place I refused to sugar-coat or whitewash," says Adiche. "It’s criticism borne out of love".
The love of our country has been a delicate subject of debate since those featherbrained days when the efforts of colonialists to build a Nigerian elite was pervasive. From that befuddled minds onward, we have had neither a blissful sleep nor a scrumptious food. But we must hail thee Nigeria, telling every goat and chicken our vested mania parlance – patriotism.
Love is one passion that can easily be used to swindle people even from their inheritance. And virtually every human believes in the glory of love, though everyone has their own ideas about it. Majority think an unhealthy and compulsive preoccupation is love, while another majority believe temporary love of an adolescent is love itself. Perhaps only a few deeply understand.The love of our country has been a delicate subject of debate since those featherbrained days when the efforts of colonialists to build a Nigerian elite was pervasive. From that befuddled minds onward, we have had neither a blissful sleep nor a scrumptious food. But we must hail thee Nigeria, telling every goat and chicken our vested mania parlance – patriotism.
If only those cynics would emulate an aura of glamour and prestige with which these "patriots" go about town screaming their love for Nigeria! I must confess however, that I often wonder whether it’s the right thing to do. But that’s my prejudice, for there is true love. Then, must they go to the market with a gong or speaker before professing their true love! What about taking a little surreptitious pleasure in the fact that they know the love they have for Nigeria!
Obsanjo usually flaunts his love for Nigeria, so is Atiku. It is a do-or-die love and, or anarchical flavour of love. Many also profess their love for Nigeria. They love Nigeria but Igilandi jungle their last sleep. By all means they must take their share of Queen Elizabeth’s pudding pound sterling. Should the sons and daughters of a former slave be buried alongside their colonial exploiter?
We love Nigeria. It is enough reason to treat common cold or catarrh, or bruise leg in the land of colonial merchants. Our profound love for Nigeria dictates we must kneel before the White House in Bushland in order to measure our worth. Even die-hard separatists love Nigeria so much their stargaze is to become the president. Let me hear you singing the song – we love Nigeria.
Solomon Lar loves Nigeria too. Lar, the first Governor of Plateau State and Pioneer National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Chief, once declared that any attempt to frustrate the presidential candidate of Atiku out of the last election would be resisted saying, "No Atiku, no April elections". I don’t remember any Nigerian governor or minister or commissioner or local chairwo(man) that swanks not his/her love for Nigeria. To show their wavering love, they must suffocate her by constricting the windpipe.
Yakubu Gowon loves Nigeria, so is Dim Ojukwu. So is Murtala Mohammed, Buka Suka Dimka, Shehu Shagari, Muhammadu Buhari, Tunde Idiagbon, Ibrahim Babangida, Ernest Shonekan, Sani Abacha, Abubakar Abdusalami and of course the new boy. En, when the new boy appointed himself Minister of Petroleum, he was actually telling us: I love Nigeria pass Lord Lugard and Company.
Don’t you see how much they love Nigeria? It was the love they have for Nigeria that turned them adventurers; they joined the army where they passionately protect her from external aggression. And those that did not go to the battlefield showed their own love through polieatics. Common, sing along. We love Nigeria.
Shout hurrah! Because such stark and irresolute love for Nigeria has yielded result, but of course hidden only to the cynics and die hard Momus. For instance, it has smoothed her roads; provide adequate drinkable water; uninterrupted electricity; health care unsurpassed anywhere in the world; excellent education and good communication system; corruption free society and security of lives; and other achievements I can’t mention due to space.
Even thugs and bandits do profess their love for Nigeria. Dr. Ishola Oyenusi, Babatunde Folorunso and Lawrence Anini, remember them? They were the three notorious Nigerian armed robbers who terrorised our minds with impunity just like the ruthless IBB and other military adventurers. They too proclaimed their love for Nigeria before departing to the House of Hades. So is George Iyamu, a divisional police officer who provided Anini with logistic and ammunition.
Lamidi Adedibu of Molete in Ibadan and Chris Uba in Anambra also have Nigeria at the bottom of their innocent hearts. Both men have shown it in thier thinking and behaviour. It was Adedibu who brazenly told the nation that peace would reign in Ibadan only if he Adedibu wanted. The love we have for Nigeria must tolerate Adedibu’s ignoble utterances because, according to the father of modern Nigeria, Adedibu is too old to be reformed. Equally there’s honour among thieves ala Chris Uba.
America also loves Nigeria. So is United Kingdom. So is China, Lebanon and others. America because of her profound love had politely warned us that Nigeria would soon disintegrate. And has since been following that by constantly interfering in our affairs. For instance, America enjoined Nigeria to release Orji Kalu, former Abia State governor, from prison. Is Kalu the only ex-governor being prosecuted by EFCC (The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission)? America is also seeking Translators of Nigerian Languages! What a true love!
But of course, the bard still loves Nigeria, so is the novelist. Niyi Osundare at 60 says he loves Nigeria more than any place in the world including New Orleans where he now resides. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, winner of the U.K Orange Prize for Fiction, at 29 says she loves Nigeria. The author of Purple Hibiscus and Half of a Yellow Sun describes Nigeria further: "it is a vibrant place with wonderful people, a place you love but it’s also a place that sometimes intensely irritates you".
So is Femi Oke, Nigerian by parentage and British by birth. Her passionate love for Nigeria radiates her voice when talking about Nigeria. "The warm thing about the country is that we are very smart, "says the full-time CNN host. "However, there’s so much disconnect about what we have and what we do with it. But I’m glad that wherever we find ourselves, we excel, we are very very enterprising".
I don’t know but it’s Osundare and Adiche and Oke I believe while I discredit other individuals mentioned in this article. Ironically, the three are living abroad. Perhaps it’s sincerity in their tones I have fallen for. "Nigeria is a place I love but also a place I refused to sugar-coat or whitewash," says Adiche. "It’s criticism borne out of love".
The love of our country has been a delicate subject of debate since those featherbrained days when the efforts of colonialists to build a Nigerian elite was pervasive. From that befuddled minds onward, we have had neither a blissful sleep nor a scrumptious food. But we must hail thee Nigeria, telling every goat and chicken our vested mania parlance – patriotism.
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