By: Uchendu
Precious Onuoha (Special correspondent, Spain)
SPANISH CITIZEN BLACKMAILING NIGERIA’S GOVERNMENT
According to the
law of nations; each nation is a mistress of her own actions, when they do not
affect the perfect right of others. Therefore, it is quite wrong for a Spanish
citizen or a Spanish of Nigerian extract, for any reason to insult the Nigerian
Embassy, her Ambassador and the Nigerian government through misleading,
provocative and ridiculous statements aimed at inciting Nigerians to chaos,
stirring up ethnic strife among Nigerians, tarnishing the image of Nigeria and
bringing the good works of the Nigerian Ambassador to disrepute. And above all,
putting Spain on a diplomatic collision course with Nigeria.
“Let them that live in a glass house don’t throw stone”.
Somebody who
decided to renounce Nigerian nationality and take up Spanish citizenship should
not turn back to start insulting, blackmailing and painting Nigeria black
outside the ambit of the bilateral laws because he/she has become Spanish. This
attitude could lead to Spain making it more difficult to grant citizenship to
Nigerians subsequently, if that is meant to breach her good relationship with
Nigeria, as it appears that those that hold Spanish citizenship are quite
ignorant of Spanish rules, laws, and their limitations to Nigeria – the country
they have renounced. “You cannot eat your cake and have it”.
I am a proud
Nigerian citizen and I have confidence in Nigeria. I pledged to Nigeria, my
country to be faithful, loyal and honest, to serve Nigeria with all my
strength, to defend her unity and uphold Her honor and glory wherever I may be.
And I will not remain passive or turn blind eyes when the image of my own
country is being smeared by a citizen of another country. “If a man comes into my hut and defecates on the floor, what do I do?
Do I shut my eyes? No! I take a stick and break his head. (Chinua Achebe). And
by virtue of my profession as a journalist, I am a societal watchdog, it lays
on me the onus to inform and educate the public on some salient issues.
“Is it ignorance that makes the rat attack the cat”?
The recent
publication in the social media by a Nigerian born Spanish citizen, insulting
and painting the name of Nigeria black by raining abuses, corrupt allegations
against the Nigerian government, and the worst, against the Ambassador who has
done exceptionally great works in Spain to earn the prestigious award as
African most outstanding Ambassador in Europe. And for a Spanish citizen to
attempt to drag her name to the mud is a total affront, and insult to all
Nigerians in Spain and the Nigerian government.
Before I
proceed, I have to cite one of the malicious articles the Spanish lady posted
on the social media on May 3, 2015, insulting the Nigerian government and the
Ambassador. And for those who may be deceived to think that she is doing this
for the interest of Nigerians, no it’s not for her love for Nigeria, because if
you love Nigeria, you will not renounce it for another country, but because her
selfish demands could not be granted by the Nigerian Embassy in Spain.
The Spanish lady
who has been posting several articles in the social media blackmailing the
Nigerian government and the Ambassador.
In one of her
malicious postings, she alleged that the Ambassador was in a 4 day visit to
Málaga, a city in Spain preparing ID Cards for Nigerians there to vote, a
misleading and erroneous information, when everybody knows that elections in
Nigeria has been concluded. She alleged that Nigerian Embassy is ethnic and
corrupt, malicious statements aimed at inciting ethnic strife and tarnishing to
the image of Nigerian government. Her malicious articles and extortive demand
letters to the Embassy would be cited in due course.
In respect to
the above, it is important that all Nigerians in Spain and beyond should know
the truth about this matter as not to be misled into believing
falsehoods. In the cause of reactions by some concerned Nigerians to the
ill-conceived and malicious articles the Spanish citizen who seem to be on
rampage has unleashed on the Ambassador and Nigerian government, the attention
of the Nigerian embassy was drawn. And from information gathered from the
Embassy source, the lady who is identified as gunning for a public position in
Spain presently, went to the Nigerian Embassy in Spain demanding for huge sums
of fund that runs into thousands of euros from the Embassy and a staff, to
finance her campaign bid. The Embassy declined her demand by letting her know
that the Embassy is not authorized to finance election campaigns in Spain,
Nigeria or anywhere in the world, as it is against international diplomatic
regulations. Owing to the decline, she went on rampage and resorted to a
campaign of calumny through the social media to blackmail, label corruption,
falsehood and malice aimed at discrediting the Ambassador and the government of
Nigeria.
“He that knows, and knows not that he knows is asleep. Wake him”. (Arabic
proverb)
May I wake her
up and others who may not know the implications and limits of what Spanish
citizenship implies? Spain does not grant dual citizenship to Nigerians. She
needs visa to enter Nigeria. By virtue of her status as a Spanish citizen, she
is not a Nigerian anymore and cannot act as the mouthpiece of Nigerians, a
country she has renounced her citizenship for Spain. It’s like a dog eating her
own vomit. Doing that is to deceive her conscience. Her actions amount to a
serious breach of diplomatic protocol by attempting to spy on the activities of
another nation and trying to extort money from a foreign mission to finance her
political campaign, an act which is fraudulent and contrary to Spanish regulations.
“He that knows not, and knows that he knows not is a pupil. Teach him”.
Nigerians in
Spain, it is diplomatically wrong for Spanish citizens to champion your cause.
It is wrong for those that hold Spanish nationality to be leaders of Nigerian
associations. I have to mention that because “If an idol becomes too
troublesome, it will be shown the tree from which it was carved”.
I am a Nigerian
citizen, and I feel insulted by the Spanish citizen’s actions, because I value
the integrity of Nigeria. And as Nigerians, we have not surrendered our
sovereignty to Spain or her citizen to champion our cause. Nigeria is for
Nigerians. She abated crime by giving bribe, and today she has the audacity to
expose herself and actions through misguided utterances. It is the behaviour of
one that knows full well that she is breaking the law. This venom targeted at
Nigerian mission, government and the Ambassador is as a result of frustration
that her selfish interest which amounts to extortion and fraud was not granted.
Spain, please answer me, “When crocodiles eat their own eggs, what will they
not do to the flesh of a frog?”
Therefore it is
extremely irresponsible for a non-Nigerian citizen who should spend more time
seeking relevance as a Spanish, and concentrate on her cause, rather than
meddling into Nigeria’s affairs by insulting a country that she has renounced.
The latest diplomatic spat by the Spanish lady is not only unnecessary but
extremely unhealthy and dangerous to Nigeria and its good relationship with
Spain. Whatever her intention may be that warranted her perceived fury and
salacious articles insulting the Nigerian government, followed by very harsh
personal attack against the Ambassador and a cross section of the Nigerian
people in Spain is undeserving and should be condemned by well-meaning
Nigerians and Spanish government.
By her actions,
it seems she wants to rock the boat of the strong and good relationship Spain
has for a long time cultivated with Nigeria for the sole purpose of satisfying
her selfish ego by insinuating and fanning the embers of xenophobia against
Nigerians in Spain. The damage the publication may cause to Spain’s
relationship with Nigeria, not to mention the deeply personal insults targeted
at the Nigerian Ambassador are humiliations to Nigeria.
“He that knows not, and knows not that he knows not is a fool. Shun him”
Her
actions clearly acknowledges that she has prepared herself to become
discredited, isolated, pariah, and persona non grata to
well-meaning Nigerians. And I call on the Nigerian Embassy in Spain not
to hesitate to report her nefarious activities to the appropriate authorities
in Spain. Also, I appeal to Spain to call her citizen, who may be unaware that
she is dwelling in “ignorance is bliss” state, to order and tender an unreserved
apology to the Nigerian government as to forestall any diplomatic row this
reckless behaviour may cause.
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