*Ribadu protests disrespect to Army chiefs
By Euclid Myke
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has described as disrespectful the actions of the Canadian government over visa denials to Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Christopher Musa, and other senior military officials.
He said that the situation once more harps on the need for all hands to be undeck to rebuild the country and make it an enviable nation.
The officials were to attend an event honouring war veterans in Canada but only a few of the delegation members were granted visas.
Commenting on this Thursday, Ribadu described it as disrespectful, while Musa emphasised the need for Nigeria to assert itself on the global stage and not be taken for granted.
The NSA reinforced the importance of making Nigeria self-sufficient, citing the incident as further motivation to work towards national progress. He commended Musa for his leadership in tackling security challenges, stressing the need for continued collaboration among security agencies.
Ribadu said: “Thank you for having the courage to say Canada denied you visas. They can go to hell. Even though it’s painful and disrespectful, we are peaceful and strong, and I agree with you that it is time to fix our country.
“Yet, this is another reason we must work hard to make Nigeria thrive. I commend you for providing purposeful leadership in the fight against insecurity.”
On his part, Musa recounted the experience, noting that he and his team had been invited to the veterans’ event but faced an unexpected setback when some members of the delegation were denied entry. He described the situation as disappointing but saw it as a reminder for Nigeria to strengthen its independence and resilience.
He stated, “Every disappointment is a blessing. Yesterday, I was meant to be in Canada for an event to honour our veterans, those who were injured during battles, and we were supposed to be there.
“We were invited with our team. Half of us have gone, and half have been denied. It’s very disappointing. It’s a clear reminder that the country must stand on its own, stand strong as a nation, and should no longer be taken for granted.”
