NSA Ribadu Tells Canada To ‘Go To Hell’ Over Visa Denial For CDS, Military Chiefs
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, on Thursday, told the Canadian High Commission in Nigeria “to go to hell” after its embassy denied some officers of Nigeria’s high military command, including the Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, visas.
Unfortunately, Nigeria and Canada might be drifting towards a major diplomatic rift as a result of this development.
Musa, and some other senior military officers, who intended to visit the North American country on an official engagement, were denied visas. Reasons for the visa denial have yet to be established.
The CDS had earlier at an event shared his frustration over the incident, revealing that he alongside his team, invited to an event in Canada honouring war veterans were denied visas.
“Every disappointment is a blessing. Yesterday, I was meant to be in Canada. There’s an event to honour our veterans, those that were injured during battles, and we were meant to be there.
“We were invited with our team. Half has gone and half has been denied. It’s very disappointing. This is a clear reminder that we must stand strong as a nation and should no longer be taken for granted,” Musa was quoted as saying.
However, reacting to the incident at the maiden annual lecture of the National Association of the Institute for Security Studies (AANISS) in Abuja, National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu expressed his displeasure and told Canada “to go to hell.”
Ribadu, however, told the CDS: “Thank you for the courage to say Canada denied you visas. They can go to hell.”
He added that: “Even though it’s painful and disrespectful, we are peaceful and strong. I agree with you – it is time to fix our country. Yet, this is another reason we must work hard to make Nigeria work.”
He also commended the CDS for his leadership in combating insecurity, emphasising that all security agencies are now working together across various regions of the country.
