- Statement Issued by Committee of Nigerians for Constructive Engagement, USA. Date: Friday, Jan 20, 2012 -
To whom it may concern:
We are a group of Nigerian professionals in the USA that came together for the purpose of harnessing our talents and matching them with developmental opportunities in Nigeria. We believe that the best way to move Nigeria forward is through constructive engagement. It was for this purpose that we participated in the recent town hall meeting in New York City, with the Minister of State 1 for Foreign Affairs, Her Excellency Prof. Mrs Viola Onwuliri and Ambassador Jerry Ugokwe.
As you may have read, the online publisher of saharareporters, Mr Sowore Omoleye and a couple of his friends came to the meeting and executed a predetermined plan to deny all in attendance opportunity to add our voices to recent burning poilcy debates about Nigeria, particularly the subsidy removal and insecurity issues. Diaspora Nigerians have for long been demanding closer participation in policy matters affecting all of us only to appear, by the disrespectful act of Mr Omoyele and Sahareporters, to shun or slap down an opportunity to engage. We are heartened that their attempt to shut the meeting down failed, thanks to the NYPD who intervened and removed them from the room. After careful deliberation our group resolved to issue this statement condemning what we consider a reprehensible show of shame by Saharareporters and hereby disassociate ourselves from it.
We further disassociate ourselves and totally condemn the maliciously doctored video clip below posted on sahareporters website, supposedly of the meeting, showing the minister and her team seated during the national anthem, thus appearing unpatriotic.
However, the undoctored full video clip below clearly shows otherwise-the minister and her team standing during the national anthem.
This is fraud not characteristic of Nigerians in the Diaspora. Fighting corruption with fraud doesn’t make sense. As professionals we believe in the superiority of our skills and intellect to accomplish our goal of moving Nigeria forward.
Although we are yet to finalize our position on the issues discussed at the meeting, we wish to commend the Minister and her team for exhibiting utmost maturity and calm in the face of provocation, as well as their patience in exhaustively addressing all questions posed by the audience. We also want to appeal to Prof. (Mrs) Viola Onwuliri and President Jonathan not to relent in their commendable effort of engaging Diaspora Nigerians. While Sowore and Saharareporters are free to express themselves any way they deem fit, so do we. We believe in constructive engagement, and will continue to aggressively advocate that approach.
Signed on behalf of Committee of Nigerians for Constructive Engagement, USA;
Juliana Ibe, MD
Kathleen Edet, MD
Bola Adeoye, MD
Collins Udoka, PhD
Tudun Bokwa, PhD
Segun Abe, PhD
Dorcas Spencer
Ikere Enyioha, JD
Baba Sheni, PhD
Nina Uwaifo, MD
Princess Uwaifo, PhD
Dasilva Benson
John Nweke
Bright Ochulor, PharmD
Eta Ita, JD
Phillip Zubem
Ijeoma Ezigwe, Ed.D
Fraincis Muonaka, PharmD
Taiwo Smith, MD
Marachi Kanayo, PhD
Larry Onyechi, PhD
Ude Udechukwu
Contact: Prof. Chamberlain Nwalu
nijaconusa@gmail.com
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No. of Views:2166
How I wish these Nigerian elites in diaspora can help solve just one of the myriad of challenges facing Nigerians back home,there are problems they can solve on Government’s behalf.Nigerians like me are tired of meetings,seminars,workshops and conferences each with an attendant cost on the nations meagre resources while those of us back home are denied basic amenities which Nigerians in diaspora enjoy at will.Please,I recollect Late Sardauna, Ahmadu Bello’s words which were unpleasant comments about Igbos and Late Major Kaduna Nzeogwu’s words after killing the Sardauna which were insultative to the Hausa-Fulani,the aftermath of it all,we can recollect.Please let us learn to address issues and exercise civility and restraint in comments.Mr Sowores actions can be addressed without involving the tribe of the Minister or Mr Sowore’s tribe.Please, let us address issues with superior intellect like someone wrote, which I doubt if the writer applied especially when he alluded to the tribe of the dramatis personae instead of focusing on issues only.Learn to address issues and not people.There are no good or bad tribes,only good and bad people.
You are all bunch of hypocrites and sycophants here.Hope you wont doctor this response. You are part of the reason Nigeria continue to be held down by these corrupt politicians and public office holding. You are all Nigerians, you do not need saharareporters to tell you how corrupt and wasteful and unserious our leaders are. You continue to support them, instead of telling them the truth, we all want to be millionaires. Our internal dialogue is different from our external dialogue. Sowore you did the right thing thing, its not about the minister alone, its about corruption, the protest is great, be proud of yourself. Shame on you cowards here continue to destroy your country for your children and grand children.
Nigerians can no longer be fooled. Paid to cloud massacre of fellow Nigerians with labor unrest. Sowore was caught with his pants down we knew all along that he is a fraud and a tribal journalist. Nigerians are educated more than these guys give them credit for and they can see through facade of fraudulent journalism. You cannot use your SR to force your opinion on people. Telling readers to only support El Rufai for presidency a guy that was preaching more genocide to fellow Nigerians, I knew then that Sowore with his SR has an agenda. Please stop this man.
SAHARAREPORTERS EXTORTIONIST!! The communication below was posted on one of the forums, it is by the author of this article I think (going by the last name):
“As you can see – we have revved-up this issue to the Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs, Federal Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, your buddy Dr. Abati, Pres. Jonathan’s spokeperson, and Pres. Jonathan through Dr. Oronto Douglas and Vice President Sambo through Dr. Baba J. Adamu.”….Baba Adam (of SR and NDLF)
“Matto?
The above excerpt is from the progress report/letter Baba Adams (of saharareporter and NDLF) sent to you and Chief Laolu Akande of the Gurdian Newspaper, after the failed attempt in new york. We are glad you have all been exposed as bunch of extortionists, seeking attention and payoff from same government you claim to oppose. Well you have awaken the substantive contributors (economically and politically) to this space to denounce your disgraceful tactics and greedy pecuniary motives. Its just the begiining. Too late, with your incoherent retreat. Your initial lies that you disrupted the meeting because the minister came late was thoroughly debunked, now you are developing another defensive narative? Infact you should be ashamed that afterall the minister took your best shot, stood, remained calm and watched your ass escorted from the room, then concluded her meeting without sweat. She fought you like most intellectuals would, with superior mind. I hope you will have the balls to post this response. Now you know how the cookie crumbles. Remain blessed. Ciao!! …..Nwalu”
What a bunch of hypocrites!!
Decentralize wealth & power…stronger regions; is the answer!: In Nigeria when subsidy is removed on petroleum, people protest & the whole country shuts down every activity & some patriots even die during the protest, but when over two hundred and fifteen people were killed by sects using bombs, nobody stages protest, comments vehemently against the act or insults the president, because it didn’t happen in their vicinity & none of their relatives are affected or because they are afraid to speak & get bombed too…
Where is that “Occupy Nigeria”?
Where is El-Rufai?
Where is Mr Tunde Bakare?
Where are the Celebrities????
Where are the Opposition Parties?
Where is NLC?
Where is Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar?
Where are Nigerians?
Were they all in the blast?
Why is everyone mute now?
Is Kano State not in Nigeria?
Is this not a more serious issue/reason for all Nigerians to wear black rags & truly OCCUPY NIGERIA with peaceful protest against mass killings of innocent ones? How safe are you now where you are? Yes! you reading this status & feeling safe.
Do we have energy & strength only on subsidy removal issues? Everyone is afraid now Abi??? dem no go occupy Nigeria again?
What a BIG SHAME
My heart is filled with mountain of grief, all toothless bulldogs can’t even bark any more ‘cos money is not involved for them to fight for.
This is disappointing! Broadcast if u feel the same, ignore if you don’t. Which way Nigeria. ?
With time God always exposes hypocrites. Now people know that Mr. Sowore Omoleye is a junkie journalist and operates corrupt and fraudulent media news online. I’m sorry for the caliber of journalists and writers associated with saharareporters. Shame on Sowore Omoleye and his friends. He should have used the weapon of his profession – “questions” to get his points across. What an irresponsible and dishonorable behavior.
Am surprised that Nigerians that have tasted whats good still find time to support this government, the government that have shown that nothing good can come out of them, well it just shows that Nigerians are always Nigerians anywhere they are…dont wanna talk much but the truth is no matter what happens we will succeed and good will eventually triumph over evil
Sowore Saharareporters shame on you!!! We thought you were one of the good guys, now we have seen that you are just a cowardly fraudster. Idiot! 419er! Criminal! ole! You have been exposed!!!
These folks remind me of Tea Party tactics in the USA….known for disrupting townhall meetings during the healthcare debate. Like tea partiers sowore and gand are complete degenerates.
Thanks for exposing the disgraceful act from by Sahara reporters and their gang. Now Nigerians knows they are not credible. Corruption is a big problem in Nigeria and we people like Sahara reporters should be prosecuted immediately for their act.
This is not the first time the Igbo women ministers (Okonjo-Iweala, Allison-Madueke, Onwuliri) have been targeted by Sowore and saharareporters. It is now very obvious that Sowore has no scruples and will to go any criminal length to tarnish intelligent women in government. This can only mean that he is a chauvinist who feels threatened by strong smart Igbo women. Shame on you saharareporters!!!, your fraudulent media practices and doctoring of facts have now been exposed.
This is what happens when a little fame gets in your head…you start making things up then it blows up on you! The man who was shouting suddenly tucked his tail up his ass, and meekly explained to police we are having “a peaceful protest”, scared they would slap a handcuff on him. A coward wanting to be a hero.
Prof. Chamberlain Nwalu and co. of Committee of Nigerians for Constructive Engagement:
Good talk, but you may be wasting your anumition hitting the wrong target.
It may surprise you to learn that the organizer of the event was fully responsible for the incident which took place on that day.
It may surprise you to know that Nigerian Consulate in New York and Nigerian Mission to the UN, New York have lists of Nigerian organizations and community associations in New York and surrounding states under their jurisdiction (especially for the Consulate which does not cover the whole of USA).
But over and over, whenever a dignitary is coming to US, instead of calling and informing Nigerian organizations and community associations duely registered with them, few corrupt officials who are in league with certain elements will inform only certain characters and even plan with those characters on how they want the event to proceed.
Some officials in the Consulate will plan that certain visiting officials will be well-received while some will be booed and embarrassed.
So blaming a particular group for doing what they are known to do may not be answer to question you raised.
Doctoring of tape is a different thing altogether, though and we shall not comment on that.
Direct your anger and question to the government organizer of the event and find out whther they have the lists we mentioned here and whther they called everyone on that list. If they did not ask why: then you will see the source of your troubles.
let’s leave you with only this point for now. Next time we shall talk about character that accompanied the Minister and how he engaged us for a PR project in the past for certain term, how we executed the project and how he played us.
The Minister may mean well, but the company she keeps ——.
Anyway, just to inform you so you will know.
We are:
Africans In America, Inc.
http://www.AfricansInAmericaInc.org
Africans In America News Watch
http://www.AfricansInAmericaNewsWatch.com
What a fool and disgrace to the Yoruba race,,,,we are better trained than this. My apo;ogies to the minister…jaguda gan ni eyi o!
Real Show of shame!
@Abdulmalik, nice to see you here at African Herald you have kept low for a while I understand I did the same.
With fraud fighters like Sahara Reporters using fraud as a tool what hope Nigeria? That is the sum total of the Nigeria project.
I am not satisfied with beating my breast and crying God help Nigeria. I believe in what you sow you reap. Nigeria is reaping what it sowed. QED.
Sowore of SAHARA REPORTERS should have been given the beating of his life for interrupting a peaceful conference in the USA. How I wish i was still in the USA i would have personally beat him up and show him how an adult should conduct himself in a public.
Let him return home like I did after visiting the USA to help build the country and not hiding in the USA wasting time on the internet in the name of Journalism.
HE IS AN IGNORANT STREET TUG!!!!
SHAME ON HIM !!!!!!!
Sowore of SAHARA REPORTERS should have been given the beating of his life for interrupting a peaceful conference in the USA. How I wish i was still in the USA i would have personally beat him up and show him how an adult should conduct himself in a public.
Let him return home like I did after visiting the USA to help build the country and not hiding in the USA wasting time on the internet in the name of Journalism.
HE IS AN IGNORANT STREET TUG!!!!
SHAME ON HIM !!!!!
Sowore of SAHARA REPORTERS should have been given the beating of his life for interrupting a peaceful conference in the USA. How I wish i was still in the USA i would have personally beat him up and show him how an adult should conduct himself in a public.
Let him return home like I did after visiting the USA to help build the country and not hiding in the USA wasting time on the internet in the name of Journalism.
HE IS AN IGNORANT STREET TUG!!!!
SHAME ON HIM !!!!
I am sad to say this, this appears as a yoruba agenda. why shout ole ole at an Igbo woman? an erudite professor? here he is hosting wole soyinka, who i respect btw, but accepted to work for a military regime nevertheless. I think protest makes sense when you are excluded, but in this case the guy was at the meeting…only to want to deprive others from dialogue? what is he afraid off, superior intellect? what an idiot!
You are right its a pure Yoruba agenda. Sowore is a complete tribalist hiding under journalism.
I feel really hurt by this discovery. Sahara has continued to show that they are a tabloid and have not respect for ethics of journalism. May God have mercy on them for their wickedness.
Sowore is the typical Yoruba criminals. He should stop embarrassing the Yorubas and Nigeria as a whole. Why would you make it as if it is only Nigerians who don’t respect their National Anthem? The boy is fool..
SR has show time and time again that they cannot be trusted. If you want to call the Nigerian government to order for corruption. Why change a video fraudulently? Isn’t that Corruption? I think he should apologize. Sowore or whatever is his name…
Like napoleon, every body has his or her own Waterloo. All it takes is one mess up like this one by Mr sowore and the tables turn. The man acts like he has political agenda on a matter of subsidy that Labour leaders have called off. So, why is he and his small grouping still “Oocupying Themselves” in America and disrupting public peace and doctoring videos
If there is any Minister of the FRN that is so cordial,intelligent and well-respected it is Prof. (Mrs) Viola Onwuliri. A Professor with a class. Very unassuming in her Ministry. Never to busy to attend any meeting or even listen to staff of the ministry. Meeting her for the first time, you won’t know she is a minister. Staff in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs say she is the only Minister they know. She is so full of praises from them, including her aides. So I was surprised when SaharaReporters published such a ridiculous article, I knew it was wrong. ThankGod I have been vindicated. SaharaReporters watch what you publish cos u have lost an ardent reader.
Sowore sahareporters need to apologize. I like him and dont want to see this destroy his reputation more than hes suffered already. Kudos to the minister for remaining very cool and calculated in midst of all the comotion.
Saharareporters being caught with their over-hyped sensational journalism. Now how does tha feel saharareporters. Pls be reporting truths not falsehood
This is laughable, for a guy who is sponsored by el-rufai, corruption inc., who owns over 70 houses and more than that in lands in abuja, to be fighting corrution? Unless you know sowores antecedents you would be surprised that he is fraud and megalomaniac. Protesting rudely attempting to prevent others from dialogue is bad enough, doctoring tape is criminal for sure!
I can’t believe sahara reporters now employs fraudsters and hooligans to report for them. What kind of reporting is this? Sowore is very unruly and disrespectful to his country’s official. With fraudulent criminals like him in the media, what hope do we have for change?
I think its very unfair what sahara reporters did. They have a bias for just targeting innocent individuals for nothing. From the video we can see the Minister standing up. So what are they talking about? Useless reporting by SaharaReporters
Shame to you sowore saharareporters, I am very disappointed. I thought he is one of the few we would depend on for credible news. Why do you have to insert yourself in the news, and add fraud and 419 to it? God help us.
Experience is the best teacher. Shi kenan!
Saharareporters is known to expose corrupt people in high places n people like me like it for that n I am sure some of d signatories here read their news without being upset with it. Yet d points made here dat they disturbed d peace of a Nigerian meeting in America n published a false video deserve apology to their readers n viewers. And since d minister in question has not been indicted for corruption, I wonder why they targetted her. How would they feel if someone go to their meeting n scatter it n then publish false videos
To doctor a video and distribute it globally is reprehensible and a fraud – the sort that, if pursued to the hilt, will cause YouTube to stop accepting video from these people. There’s a thin line between free speech and orchestrated campaign of smearing one’s country and her public officials, disrupting their meeting, trespassing on their space, harassing them anyhow. Na waa oo. I see no reason why such a thing is allowed to happen unchecked. Even America where these people are will not hesitate to use diplomatic and other legal means to stop this subversive campaigns, which have contributed in no small measure in portraying Nigeria in very bad light. They call Pres. Jonathan a dullard, his wife, all sorts of names and false accusations, the VP they are even insinuating terrorist links, everybody else in government they call thief, corrupt and worse epithets; and now they have gone as far as getting physical with a Minister of the FRN in a foreign land. To me, that and this doctored video is criminal