FG demands apology from US on scamming allegation

The Federal Government, Saturday, explained why it is demanding unreserved apology from the United States of America over a statement credited to one of its Senators, Ted Cruz, about Nigerians being involved in email scamming.

  An open letter from the Nigeria’s Ambassador to the US, Prof. Ade Adefuye, stated that the country wouldn’t sit back, fold its arms, while a politician assaults the integrity of the country and its people just to appease the base instincts of a few misguided elements in his constituency.
 “Our immediate reaction at the Embassy is to assume that you were wrongly quoted and that the statement would be denied. We are however surprised that this has not happened. We have no choice than to assume that the statement was deliberately made by you.
 “For a start, we are shocked that a high profile Senator of a country which is at the forefront in building a peaceful and stable world in which nations and peoples treat each other with mutual respect could be engaged in an act which offends the sensitivities of an important component of his constituency,” he said.
  Adefuye reminded the Senator of the numerous constructive contributions, which Nigerians have made to the economic, social and political lives of Texas especially in the Houston area.
 While saying that every country has its own share of law breakers, he warned that the activities of few should not be used as opportunity to cast aspersions on the integrity of a country and its people, saying it is not only unfair but also excessively offensive.
 “You yourself made the point that the so-called email scammers have disappeared from the scene. But it is not because they were recruited to work on Obamacare. It is because of the successful efforts of our government working through the Embassy and the international law enforcing agents to curb the activities of these few lawbreakers,” he stated.
 The Ambassador insisted that it is not the practice of any Nigerian diplomatic mission to interfere in the domestic affairs of its host countries.
“Distinguished Senator, the least we can say is that Nigerians feel offended by you. They demand an apology,” he stated.

- The Guardian

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