Former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, has condemned recent statements made by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, regarding Canada’s denial of visas to Nigeria’s military officials.
In a statement posted on his verified Facebook page, Lamido, who is a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, criticized the handling of the situation, suggesting that Ribadu’s public remarks have damaged Nigeria’s reputation on the global stage.
“The NSA and his Principal must realize that they represent and project our collective image as a sovereign nation!” Lamido stated, emphasizing that such diplomatic matters should be handled with greater care. He noted that the past two years have exposed the government’s poor management of Nigeria’s foreign relations, particularly with organizations like ECOWAS and countries such as Canada.
Referring to Ribadu’s controversial remarks during the annual lecture of the Alumni Association of the National Institute for Security Studies (AANISS), where the NSA told Canada to “go to hell,” Lamido argued that such statements are inappropriate for a diplomatic figure. “The whole blunder could have been avoided if the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had been allowed to play its role as the key ministry in guiding our conduct on the global stage,” Lamido remarked.
He further stated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should have addressed the issue. “The recent outburst by the NSA against Canada for denying visas to our military personnel could have been handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which would have summoned the Canadian High Commissioner, if necessary, to reprimand him for the affront and threaten him with appropriate consequences.”
Lamido pointed out that the NSA’s remarks had exposed Nigeria to international ridicule. “The NSA’s unnecessary outburst has unwittingly brought to the public domain the embarrassing humiliation meted out to Nigeria by the Canadian High Commission,” he said, adding that he felt compelled to speak out due to his love for his country.
The former governor also called for a clear distinction between the roles of the NSA and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “The NSA should not, and must not, appropriate the duties of the Minister of Foreign Affairs!” he asserted.
