Senator Ali Ndume, representing the Borno South senatorial district in the Nigerian Senate, has raised concerns about the lack of respect Nigerian leaders show towards themselves on the international stage. His comments came in response to the recent incident where the Canadian High Commission in Nigeria denied a visa to Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff (COS), General Christopher Musa.
As reported by DAILY POST, General Musa was scheduled to attend an event in Canada honoring fallen heroes, but the Canadian embassy in Nigeria refused to issue him a visa. Speaking at an event organized by the National Association of the Institute for Security Studies (AANISS) in Abuja on Thursday, General Musa confirmed that both he and other military officials had been denied entry to Canada.
He remarked, “Every disappointment is a blessing. Yesterday, I was meant to be in Canada. There’s an event to honor our veterans and those injured during battles, and we were meant to be there.”
The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, strongly condemned the denial of visas, particularly to the Chief of Defence Staff and his colleagues, describing it as a disrespectful act. Ribadu expressed his frustration, saying that Canada “can go to hell” in response to the visa snub.
Despite the backlash, Canada maintained that it could not disclose the reasons behind the visa denials, citing “privacy reasons.” Additionally, Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, condemned the incident, expressing that it demonstrated a lack of respect for Nigeria as a nation.
However, in a different perspective, Senator Ndume, while speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, suggested that Nigerian leaders need to adopt a more self-respecting attitude and refrain from excessive international travel. Reflecting on the incident involving the Chief of Defence Staff, Ndume stated, “In the first place, there’s no doubt that this is a form of disrespect to Nigeria, but leaders must respect themselves first.”
He went on to explain that such diplomatic issues could have been avoided if a formal invitation had been extended to the CDS and others attending the event, which would have been used to facilitate their visa applications. According to Ndume, if the invitation was not issued, the leaders should have reconsidered their travel plans. He emphasized, “If you don’t respect yourself that much, this is what happens.”
The senator also questioned how the Chief of Defence Staff, representing Nigeria—one of the most populous countries in the world, known for its international engagements—could be denied a visa. “How can the CDS of Nigeria, a country that is known and the most populous, and we have been contributing to international engagements, be denied a visa?” Ndume asked, expressing his disbelief at the situation.
While he acknowledged the National Security Adviser’s anger at the visa denial, Ndume presented a different perspective, urging Nigerian leaders to prioritize their own country. “Let’s be Nigerians,” he asserted. He further shared his personal experience, stating, “I don’t go anywhere. I’m a Senator, and for the past 15-20 years, I’ve been in the National Assembly. I don’t go anywhere. I don’t need to go anywhere. Nigeria is my country.”
Ndume’s comments suggest a call for Nigerian leaders to focus more on internal affairs and self-respect rather than engaging in frequent international trips, especially when such incidents of disrespect occur. His remarks offer a sharp critique of how Nigerian officials present themselves on the global stage.
