A spokesman for Nigeria's Senate, Senator Ayogu Eze, clarified comments that had been attributed to the senate after Nigeria had been placed on a "countries of interest" list by the United States (U.S.) after an attempt by a Nigerian man, Farouk Umar Abdulmutallab, to blow up a U.S airplane.
Media reports in Nigeria had said that the senate had given the U.S. a seven-day ultimatum to reverse the classification or risk a diplomatic row.
The statement read, "The Senate did not issue a seven-day ultimatum," read: "We have followed with interest the misrepresentations in the media regarding our comments in rejecting the classification of Nigeria as a nation to be kept under watch in America's fight against terrorism.
"At no point did the Senate give a seven-day ultimatum. What I said at the press briefing, and this is verifiable from the bodies of the stories with the misleading headlines, was that we rejected the classification and demanded that our name be taken off that list.
"I followed up by stating that when the Senate resumes next, it will engage all its diplomatic and legislative gears to bring about this reversal.
"It was therefore surprising that well-meaning Nigerians for whom the Senate has so much respect would be misled by these screaming headlines to make comments on the matter without first of all acquainting themselves with the facts of the case.
"The comment by Prof. Wole Soyinka referring to the Senate position as being absurd is most unfortunate because I had expected that being one of the captains of the literary ship in Nigeria, he should have read the entire comment from the Senate before casting aspersion on the institution for something that did not happen at all.
"It is wrong for those the Senate holds in high esteem to attack its reputation and seek to rubbish its actions without justification. I am constrained to observe that Prof. Soyinka is gradually falling into this group of Nigerians who offer opinions hastily without first obtaining all the sides to an issue.
"I wish to restate that the Senate rejects this obnoxious classification which was done without due consultation with relevant authorities in Nigeria. On resumption, we are going to weigh in on the matter, with a view to finding a solution to it.
"We also want to use this opportunity to restate our opposition to terrorism in any form from any quarters. We condemn what Umar Abdulmutallab did, and ask that innocent Nigerians be spared the agony to which they are exposed because of this one-off incident.
"His action, heinous and condemnable as it is, is not enough ground to criminalise innocent and law-abiding Nigerians over a matter they know nothing about.
"This is the official position of the Senate for now, and any views to the contrary belong to those who hold such views."
"The views and opinions expressed in these comment(s) or article(s) do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of NGEX, its partners or its affiliates."
Cliff Bmore, MD, USA January 11, 2010
Even if they were to give an ultimatum, what ever make them think that anyone would take those bunch of criminal that can't even abide by there own constitution serious?
Is it not the same senate that said that Yar'Adua can rule Nigeria from anywhere in the world, including in his concertos state.
Now what makes you think that even kindergartner would even think some human beings are talking----- Mr Eze let us hear something, Undereducated fool like you should never have been appointed to the senate in the first place, I am quite 99% of you were never elected.
