By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/un1nigeria012210.html
UNITED NATIONS, January 22 -- Nigerian Foreign Minister Chief Ojo Maduekwe brought a $1.5 million check for Haiti to the UN's Ban Ki-moon in New York on Friday. Afterwards Inner City Press asked him about Nigeria's previous bilateral grant of $500,000 to the military government in Myanmar, months after Cyclone Nargis hit that country.
What had changed Nigeria's policy, and what follow up had there been on the Myanmar regime's use of the $500,000? Video here, from Minute 6:22.
Ojo Maduekwe said the money had gone straight to Myanmar's government so as to be a "speedy response." But it was months after the cyclone. Here, Ojo Maduekwe here, the Secretary General made a flash appeal. But that was also true in Myanmar. Click here for Inner City Press' first, exclusive story.
Ojo Maduekwe said, "it's not that what we did last time was wrong, just that we're improving."
Inner City Press asked if the Minister had spoken with his President at all during the weeks he has been in Saudi Arabia for medical treatment. Video here, from Minute 5:35. Ojo Maduekwe said no, he had not been able to speak with the President, but he feels he is carrying out his policies.
Later on Friday, as Inner City Press moderated a second session of Ojo Maduekwe with reporters, asked how Ojo Maduekwe could thus claim to have a mandate, adding that he had supported Sani Abacha.
Ojo Maduekwe called the question disrespectful and said he would not answer it. But see video here. Inner City Press, as moderator, re-phased the questioOmoyele Soworen, and asked Ojo Maduekwe to answer. He did, at length, arguing that while picked by the President, he represents his region, and the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Not allowed was this question: if Sudan's Omar al Bashir visited, who would decided to enforce the International Criminal Court warrant or not?
Inner City Press asked Ojo Maduekwe if he had discussed with Ban Ki-moon the violence at Jos, and the plight of Nigerians in the Bakassi Peninsula. Ojo Maduekwe said that the crackdown in Jos showed that mediation by the government is over, now it is about law, order and punishment.
Citing the reported extra judicial execution of the leader of Boko Haram (No Western Education), Inner City Press asked if any human rights investigation had been done. "Same answer," Ojo Maduekwe said, adding, "due process."
On Bakassi, he praised Cameroon's president's response and said he would be meetin with him next week. But what about the UN's role? The question was asked recently by the Press at a UN noon briefing, but never answered.
Footnote: Inner City Press also asked Ojo Maduekwe about the back parking tickets and real estate taxes the Nigerian Mission and diplomats in New York own, click here for Inner City Press' previous story.
Ojo Maduekwe on camera said his Permanent Representative Ms. Joy Ogwu would briefing him and Nigeria will "do what is right" after "I take administrative action." Video here, from Minute 8:41.
Later on Monday he called it an administrative matter and referred another reporter to the Mission, where they channel the questions to their lawyer. What was that again, about doing what is right? Watch this site.
In front of the Nigerian Misssion on Friday morning was a protest, of the "missing" President. "If you see him, call 1-800," a toll free number, one sign said. Next door on 44th and 2nd is a soup cart run by Azim of Afghanistan, with tasty lamb and lentil soup for four dollars, bread included. If Azim pays his taxes in the City of New York, why can't Nigeria?
