Former Senate President, Ameh Ebute, has written to President Donald Trump of the United States of America over the recent report by US Department of State, titled, ‘2018 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.’
In an open letter entitled “Time To Break off The Disintegration Of Nigeria” released to the press on Thursday, Ebute urged the US government to investigate the researchers who packaged the report and apply appropriate sanctions on them for official ineptitude as advertised by the poor job.
In the report, the US accused the Nigerian government and state agents, particularly the military, of arbitrary and unlawful killings and an array of other sundry crimes bothering on human rights violations allegedly perpetrated in the country in the year under review.
However, Ebute said he was encouraged as an elder citizen and leader in Nigeria to write the open letter to correct certain erroneous impressions and strengthen the records on the punchy assault on the human rights direction of the incumbent leadership of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) under President Muhammadu Buhari, and the Nigerian military, especially the Nigerian Army.
“My motivation for this open epistle is energized by a report recently released through the US Department of State titled, ‘2018 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.’
“First, let me commend the friendly interest of the US Government in the affairs of Nigeria. It is a demonstration of the finest pursuit of the global agenda of upholding human dignity, peace, unity and security of nations of the world.
“I dare say, Nigeria relishes the good and smooth diplomatic ties with America in the last few years and believe it will further deepen in the years ahead.
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“I accept in totality that the ‘US 2018 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices,’ is one of the many ways the American Government keeps independent nations around the world on their toes, foster global communism, respect for human dignity and the fundamental human rights of all races of the world.
Ebute believed that certain assumptions as contained in the report on Nigeria, which hinged on human rights violations by the Nigerian Army did not reflect the reality in our country under the Buhari Presidency.
“We must first acknowledge that Nigeria is facing one of its toughest times in history, since independence,” he said.
“With an array of threatening insecurity issues ranging from Boko Haram terrorism to other insurrectional uprisings and near senseless agitations, our country has been on the cliffhanger to say the least.
“It is glaring to all Nigerians that the veiled and open plots to destabilise Nigeria and possibly cause its disintegration spearheaded by internal actors is actively backed by foreign forces.
“The gang-up against Nigeria to cause its break-up is strong, thick, scary and penetrative, as reflected in the barrage of existing and emerging insecurity threats across the country.
“Our military, especially the Nigerian Army are overstretched in efforts to contain the pervading terrorism and insurrections.
“But, the Nigerian Army under the able leadership of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai, who also doubles as the leader of the counter-insurgency operations in Nigeria have been the saving grace and they have never flinched,” Ebute stated.
Ebute posited that “external enemies of Nigeria in league with devious internal allies are saddened by the unbreakable patriotism, loyalty and commitment of our troops to the cause of the emancipation of Nigeria, by mounting an effective, impenetrable and strong bulwark against these dark agents of destabilization and break-up of Nigeria.
“Therefore, it is common knowledge that they have conspired to break the resolve of the Nigerian Army in winning the war against terror and insurrections.
“They have deployed various antics, including, but not restricted to false accusations of the Army on human rights violations, smear campaigns and outright vilification of the institution of the Nigerian Army to dampen the fighting spirit of soldiers and weaken their morale.
“But, these gimmicks have failed to post the results the detractors expect,” he declared.