Chief Dipreye Alamieyeisegha
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
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