United States richest man and philanthropist, Bill Gates, has cancelled his planned official visit to Nigeria scheduled for March 27.
Gates’ action, it was believed was part of an unfolding
diplomatic row between the US and Nigeria following the controversial pardon
granted by President Goodluck Jonathan to ex-convicts Diepreye
Alamieyeseigha and Shettima Bulama.
He was scheduled to meet President Goodluck
Jonathan, state governors and officials of the Federal Ministry of Health on
the polio eradication campaign of Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation.
Diplomatic sources said the trip was cancelled, two days
after the US government expressed disappointment with the Federal Government
for pardoning convicted money launderers.
Gates was reported to have already instructed his staff to
inform the Nigerian Presidency, the secretariat of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum
and the Federal Ministry of Health that he was no longer coming.
“The State Department has advised him that Nigeria is not
conducive for such visit at this time,” a source said. “We hope that the
Nigerian government will get the message and return to the path of sanity.”
The controversial pardon granted Messrs Alamieyeseigha and
Bulama had on Friday sparked fierce diplomatic row between Nigeria and the
United States, with the Americans threatening to punish Nigeria
over Jonathan’s action and Nigeria accusing the Americans of
meddlesomeness.
“We see this as a setback for the fight against corruption,
and also for our ability to play the strong role we’ve played in supporting the
rule of law and legal institution-building in Nigeria, which is very important
for the future of the country obviously,” State Department spokesperson,
Victoria Nuland, had told reporters in Washington.
Gate is the biggest foreign supporter of the campaign to
eradicate polio in Nigeria and has worked consistently with the Nigerian
authorities since 2009 over the matter.
His foundation has developed a six-year strategy through 2018
that will help combat polio in Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan and has set
aside $1bn per annum for the purpose.
He had scheduled this March’s visit to consolidate on that
alliance, meet with Jonathan, state governors and other stakeholders with a
view to generally revving up the war against the pandemic.
Director General of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Mr. Asishana
Okauru, said on Monday that the visit had been rescheduled.
He said, “As far as we are concerned, the visit has been
rescheduled. But I cannot say when that would be. It would be make known as
soon as we get a new date.”
Also, the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyewuchi Chukwu, said,
“I am not privy to Mr. Gate’s itinerary”
Spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ogbole
Ahmedu-Ode said he was not aware of the visit.
Meanwhile, a civil society organisation, Anti-Corruption
Network, on Monday reacted to the cancellation of Gates’ proposed visit to
Nigeria.
The Founder/Executive Secretary of the ACN and former member
of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dino Melaye, in an interview with The
PUNCH said the President should “realise that he is President of
Nigeria and not the Ijaw nation.”
Melaye said, “This is a demonstration of a failed government,
the world is now a global village. Therefore, no country can hide under the
cover of non-interference on domestic matters to perpetrate the evil of
corruption. This again have exposed the myopic, porous and parochial advisers
of Mr. President. By this unpardonable pardon, the President has finally
announced his romance, marriage and union with corruption.”
Chairman of Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, Mr. Debo
Adeniran, also said it was an indication that Nigeria was a failing state.
He said, “This is an indication that Nigeria is a failed
state. Granting amnesty to a criminal, who jumped bail and declared wanted in
saner clime, mocks our sensibility as Nigerians and is also a slap on the
nation where the accused is standing trial.”
Meanwhile, the Presidency on Monday said it was not true that
the planned visit of Gate to Nigeria was cancelled because of the US opposition
to Alamieyeseigha’s pardon.
Presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati, said this in an
interview with State House correspondents.
Abati said contrary to the reports, his interaction with the
Bill and Melinda Foundation showed that the planned visit was put off because
of the inavailability of some partners.
Abati said, “The foundation said that Mr. Bill Gates’ travels
are often dependent on the schedules and availability of many other people and
partners and that in this particular case, because these other people and
partners will not be available at the time he is presently scheduled to visit
Nigeria, they have to reschedule the visit.”
Punch Nigeria
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