PoliticsNigeria: Senate: Threatens retaliation for being placed on terrorism watchlist

According to Amos Dunia (Abuja), "Terrorism: Senate threatens to take action against US" (Jan6,2k10), the Nigerian Senate leadership is furious at USA's placing the country's international travellers on a watchlist of 14 countires, simply on the basis of nationality.

“We also want to advice America that it is in their own best interest to conduct this matter very well in a manner that will not result into diplomatic row between America and Nigeria because Nigeria has never been found wanting in her dealings with America. So, for them to embarrass this country with this kind of classification for no justification is completely unacceptable.

“It is not America alone that has citizens to whom the government is responsible, we also have citizens and we are responsible for them, we will not allow Nigerians to be molested wherever they go. I think that this message should be put out clearly that when we resumes, if the situation is still there, it is going to be one of the major issues that we are going to tackle and the Senate president has told me to state categorically that he is unhappy about this and being the chairman of the National Assembly, it means also on behalf of the National Assembly.”

So says Senator Ayogu Eze, speaking apparently for the President of the Senate, David Mark. The Nigeria National Assembly is bicameral, but the present initiatve in the diplomatic war of words with the Obama Administration is being launched by upper chamber, Nigeria's Senate.

-- Politicarp