The seeming helplessness and inability of the Nigerian government to effectively stem the unending spiral of violence by Boko Haram terrorists that has engulfed Nigeria is creating a deep sense of international outrage and frustration, especially at the UN, where Nigeria currently holds the rotatory Presidency of the Security Council for the month of April. The palpable backlash of isolation has reinforced Nigeria’s pariah status, judging from the global response to the increasing wave of terror attacks in Nigeria. No fewer than 20 nations have already issued travel bans against Nigeria, while, the UN has issued four official statements; two in one week, criticizing the state of insecurity in Nigeria. Given a chance to vote all over again, a majority of the permanent Council members, are now inclined to vote against Nigeria’s membership; and want Nigeria expelled apparently because Nigeria has become the poster child of global lawlessness and an international embarrassment to the United Nations.
Huhuonline.com has learnt from sources close to the UN scribe, Ban Ki-Moon that members of the UN, who are contemplating to expel Nigeria from its non-permanent membership of the Security Council, over the terrorist attacks that have claimed at least 2000 lives since the beginning of the year. Nigeria’s Ambassador to the UN, in New York, Prof Joy Ogwu, who has been presiding as Security Council rotating president for April, has had to shoulder the frustrating responsibility of chairing the Council with the burden of knowing her own country is a major international security concern. Not surprisingly, sources told Huhuonline.com that Ogwu’s moral authority as Council President has been severely weakened by the rising Boko Haram terrorism, following the Nyanya Bus station bombing, and the kidnapping of over 100 schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State.
Diplomatic sources in New York told Huhuonline.com that Ogwu is under pressure from the Council, especially the United States, who are not impressed by President Goodluck Jonathan’s response to the rising threat of Boko Haram terrorism. A source at the US State Department hinted Huhuonline.com that the US government through its Permanent Representative at the UN, Samantha Power, has conveyed its disappointment with the Nigerian government; not just for its lackluster response to terrorism, but its obstinate refusal to accept international help to fight Boko Haram. The Jonathan administration has rejected help from the US, which has designated Boko Haram as a terrorist organization; but US sources are said to be monitoring the situation closely; and sources told Huhuonline.com that America will not hesitate to strike Boko Haram targets with, or without Abuja’s permission, based on the ransom placed on Boko Haram leaders, by the US Justice Department. Jonathan administration officials argue that US drone strikes will cause a lot of collateral damage that might instead escalate the crisis.
Nigeria’s failing security situation is causing a global sense of frustration and the Americans are pushing the UN Secretary General to take action. The negative international media focus on Nigeria, in the wake of the recent attacks and kidnapping has been unrelenting, and already, 20 countries have issued travel bans advising their citizens to stay away from Nigeria. These include the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain and Sweden. The very detailed warnings are categorically about the very high threat of terrorist attack, the high risk of kidnapping, the unpredictable security situation, the heightened risk of violent civil unrest and the high level of violent crime in Nigeria. The foreign governments further added that the security situation in Nigeria “remains fluid and unpredictable.”
At the UN specifically, the Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, has had to personally issue two of the four critical statements on the Nigeria terror attacks within three days. The third one came from the Security Council, where Prof Joy Ogwu has been presiding as rotating president. The fourth was issued by the UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, again, issued a strongly worded statement after the abduction of the schoolgirls, making it the fourth UN statement condemning the situation in Nigeria. Diplomatic sources told Huhuonline.com that this is not a very good sign for Nigeria’s image, given its standing at the UN.
All four UN statements showed a deep sense of international outrage and global frustration at the kid gloves response of the Jonathan government to effectively control the situation. In fact, some of the statements noted that international laws are being broken with impunity in Nigeria. In its statement, UNICEF called “for greater efforts to protect all children throughout Nigeria,” and that “the Nigerian government should urgently take steps to make sure that the children are returned to their families unharmed and that they can continue their education in a safe environment.”
