Former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, has berated Nigeria’s Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, and other senior military officers following the denial of their visa applications by the Canadian Embassy.
Odinkalu via the microblogging platform, X formerly on Sunday condemned the outrage expressed by the officers, questioning the rationale behind attending the Invictus Winter Games in Canada while Nigeria continues to struggle with severe security challenges.
Odinkalu also raised concerns about the necessity of sending a delegation of over 70 military officers, to an event unrelated to Nigeria’s security needs. He pointed out that Nigeria, as a tropical West African nation, does not observe winter or participate in winter sports, making the decision to send such a large delegation highly questionable.
Odinkalu further accused Nigeria’s senior cabinet members, led by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, of handling the situation in an embarrassing manner. He described the controversy as a failure of governance and called for greater accountability among top officials.
He said, “Senior officials of @NigeriaGov who shd be ashamed of themselves are frothing that Canada denied visas to the #CDS. How does anyone justify a delegation of over 70 officers led by the CDS to #InvictusWinterGames? When did #Nigeria start doing winter?!
“And why would a delegation with the Chief of @DefenceInfoNG at its head be applying for visas for an official trip behind the back of @NigeriaMFA? How foolish & irresponsible are we supposed to be?
“Instead of acknowledging a terrible @OwnGoal & apologising, we have a disgraceful line-up of senior cabinet members, led by @NuhuRibadu & including freelancing ministers, making the govt look more stupid. We may be lawless but other countries are not obliged to follow us in that
“Instead of abusing @CanHCNigeria, @NigeriaGov owes them an apology. Additionally, in a proper system there will be an investigation as well as consequences for those who have brought this kind of embarrassment upon the country. These ppl shd stop disgracing themselves.”