Dear Editor,
Kindly find suitable chat space for the above subject of national concern to Nigerians abroad and Nigerias image as the whole.
Recently, Friday 25 May 2001, a Nigerian couple who run a foodstuff store in Dalston, East London, were jailed 7 years each for dealing in bushmeat - which the authorities in the UK called endangered species.
The victims, Rose and Bode of Mercyland Stores - Oshodi London- are parents to three young children born in England. The couple has no discernible police records. Amazingly, such a case has not been heard of in the country.
Besides, the jury of ten that convicted them composed 9 White and 1 Caribbean (no African no Nigerian). The ruling of 9 against 1 emerged.
At the heels of this judgement comes the ban placed on egusi (melon seeds) a stable foodstuff of most Africans - especially Nigerians. Dried fish, snail, etc have also gone under the hammer. Egusi, they say, can cause cancer! Do you believe that?
Other stores are already being combed for these contrabands. Nigerian food is being targeted as a possible cause of 'Foot and Mouth'. Could that be true?
One of the 50 Naija restaurants, this one off Rye Lane, Pecham is said to have been closed down for selling bushmeats.
The High Commissioner has been alerted and 'he's going to act'. All caterers and Nigerian Nationals, NNU, etc find it unacceptable. Aren't Asians allowed to eat their own food?
The Chinese were first accused, they protested and won.
Do you think Nigerians have a case to protest about on this subject?
Bear in mind that a people's food is a symbol of their cultural, ecological and biological
identity. It's also the hallmark of a nation's integrity. Fish and chips is the pride of the British! Currently, the dazed couple languish in prisons in London. The husband is remanded in Belmarsh while the wife is at Holloway, both high security prisons.
A bail option is said to be put at £40,000 and four sureties for both. Final sentence is slated for June 12.
Remember that date, June 12. Will Nigerian food be annulled in the UK, like IBB did to MKO Abiola's election?
Well, let's wait and see.
Meanwhile, whereas there's no need for incitement of any kind on this matter. But it excites curiosity to see fellow Nigerians being slammed for an obscure offense, as selling bushmeat or handling snake skin bags, grass-cutter, etc.
It is therefore pertinent that FGN should contact their British counterpart to check out the true position of things and, in turn, inform Nigerians on what is right or wrong to eat in the foreign lands.
Several containers of egusi, dried fish, fanta, etc are alleged to have been seized and destroyed by the British custom and excise.
Who bears the brunt? Fellow Nigerians.
The Rose/Bode case study may be the water-tester for worse scenarios to happen. It's good for host countries of immigrants to understand the corporate definition of their guests as it is relevant for strangers to respect the laws of the land of their sojour.
In all, good communication is of essence. Direct, clear, simple, mass-appeal form of information dissemination on such issue is necessary. Because, if misconstrued, this may fatally fan the embers of racial tension and and friction, resulting in disharmony and the civil spirit of live and let live.
Finally, it is important to note the magnitude of Foot and Mouth epidemic. Whatever is causing it should be of interest to everyone. But to rush to conclusion, without much empirical facts, and stigmatise a segment of a plural society as a source of a terrible disease taints, darkly, the image of such an accused.
Thank you.
Guides
