Date Published: 01/03/10

U.S list Nigeria as "State Sponsors of Terrorism"

...As Obj says "Don't Criminalize Nigerians"

President Barack Obama

Nigeria, once acclaimed giant of Africa has now entered the black books of the United States, joining the league of countries dubbed “State Sponsors of Terrorism.”

This means all air passengers bound for the United States from Nigeria will face tightened random screening efforts under the new U.S. Transportation Security Administration rules.

Yemen, Pakistani, Iran, Sudan, Somalia, Iraq and Nigeria now make up seven countries which the United States have classified as “State Sponsors of Terrorism,” Politico reported.

But former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta implored the international community not to use the terrorist attempt by Umar Farouk Abudulmutallab to gauge criminality in Nigeria.

Describing Abdulmutallab’s action as an “aberration,” Obasanjo said, “He should not be used as a standard to judge Nigerians, or in fact to criminalize all Nigerians. 

“I sympathize with his father, particularly, and his family; because I know the father very well. His father is what I will call specimen of a good man; he is a gentleman who wants the best for his children.” 

“In any large family,” Obasanjo explained, “you have defiant children. (Abdulmutallab) just turned out to be that. It’s a pity and also, it’s a good lesson for all parents and all children. 

“If as a child you do not listen to your parents, anything can happen.”

Obasanjo prayed to God for the country’s healing, acknowledging that its problems are multi-dimensional, but not insurmountable before God.

“God, if Nigeria is not your own, we would have ceased to exist. We pray that you shall continue to hold us and never desert us. Just as we pray for Nigeria, we pray for Ghana – that God should continue to make it a great nation in Africa.”