Senator Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South in Nigeria’s Senate, has shared his thoughts on the recent visa denial that affected Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, General Christopher Musa, and other high-ranking officials.
In response to the denial by the Canadian embassy in Nigeria, Ndume suggested that leaders in Nigeria must respect themselves before they can expect respect from other countries.
The incident happened when General Musa was supposed to travel to Canada for an event honoring fallen heroes and those injured in battle. However, his visa, along with those of other Nigerian officials, was denied by the Canadian embassy.
Musa later shared the news, saying: “Every disappointment is a blessing. Yesterday, I was meant to be in Canada. There’s an event to honor our veterans, those who were injured during battles, and we were meant to be there.”
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, strongly criticized the Canadian embassy for the visa refusal, even saying that Canada “can go to hell.”
On the other hand, the Canadian embassy explained that they could not disclose the reasons behind the visa denial due to “privacy reasons.”
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, also called the denial disrespectful to Nigeria, condemning the actions of the Canadian embassy.
However, Senator Ndume, speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, offered a different perspective. He suggested that Nigerian leaders should focus more on solving issues at home rather than constantly traveling abroad. He stated:
“You brought up the CDS situation and how the NSA reacted. Yes, it is disrespectful, but first, you have to respect yourself. They should have received an invitation letter. If that letter wasn’t given to them, they shouldn’t have gone. If the visa was denied, they wouldn’t go.”
Ndume expressed his satisfaction that General Musa wasn’t too upset by the incident, adding: “If you don’t respect yourself, this is what happens.”
He continued, questioning how it was possible for such a senior Nigerian official to be denied a visa, especially when Nigeria is a leading country in Africa and has contributed a lot to global engagements.
“It’s hard to believe. How can the Chief of Defence Staff of Nigeria—our country, the most populous in Africa—be denied a visa for an event honoring fallen heroes?” he said.
Ndume also shared his personal view, saying that he doesn’t feel the need to travel abroad. “I’m a Senator, and for the past 15-20 years, I’ve been in the National Assembly. I don’t go anywhere. Nigeria is my country,” he added.
