RoyalFatherPromotesNigeria’sImageGlobally
Stories by Mary Nnah
A book titled ‘Not all Nigerians are corrupt’ has been formally written in reaction to a statement made some time ago by the former Prime Minister of Britain that Nigerians are fantastically corrupt.
The Egbere Emere 1, Okori Eleme, Rivers State, HRH Appolus Chu, is the author and he says there is need for Nigerians and foreigners to promote Nigerians as great and hardworking entrepreneurs, investors, scientists, worldclass entertainers and sports men of international repute who work hard to promote the world economy.
He made this pronouncement at the just concluded 16th Africa Security Watch Awards, tagged, “Celebration of Africa’s best in Security, Safety and Governance”, held at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai, United Arab Emirates where the Royal Father addressed the world as the keynote speaker alongside the Executive Dean, Faculty of Military Science, Stellenbosch University, South Africa, Prof Samuel Tshehla. The peace ambassador’s entrance into the United Arab Emirates this time wasn’t like his regular visits to the region but that of one who was on a globally mission to set the record straight, rewrite Africa’s story and tell the world that “Not all Nigerians are Corrupt”.
Addressing the world audience, HRH Chu was of the opinion that the West sees Nigerian businessmen setting up factories as threats to the monopoly they are enjoying in the Nigerian market and African economy at large, thus they intentionally blackmail the Africans particularly Nigerians.
“We all know that Nigeria is a huge market to the global economy and I do know that there are few countries in the world that have been enjoying the monopoly of the Nigeria market and because Nigerians have come of age, developing different business ideas and forming businesses and products that are of international standard which make them stand at par with these foreign countries and companies, thereby posing a threat to the many countries that have been monopolising the Nigeria and world markets.
“So what these foreigners do is to attack us with blackmails and then generalise negative traits of a few bad Nigerians to every Nigerian they come across. They keep saying that Nigerians are corrupt, so as to, perhaps, deny them partnership with foreign companies, loans and so many other things that would aid their businesses. They are trying to destabilised Nigerian businessmen from working hard, being focused and achieving great heights.”
He therefore called on the Western media to be objective and fair in their reportage, ensuring they create a balance.
“I’m using this opportunity to call on the world that there are so many Nigerians in the Western world doing wonderfully well, supporting the economy of the other sister countries and the western countries as well. But the Westerners would never come to the media and praise these wonderful people but when they find one Nigerian wanting, the news spread like wild fire and then they generalise this particular crime committed by one person to all other Nigerians who are working hard”, he maintained.
HRH Chu, who described crime and criminality as part of human existence, however stressed that any individual, be it a Nigerian or foreigner, that commits crime, should be dealt with according to the law of the country in which he/ she is found wanting while all accusation should be narrowed down to that particular individual and not generalised on over 200 million innocent and hardworking Nigerians.
“Corruption and criminality is part of human existence but I am telling the world that if you find any Nigerian who is corrupt, please narrow your accusations to that particular individual who is found wanting in any area and punish him/her according to the law of your land rather than generalising the crime committed, thereby accusing millions of Nigerians who are innocent and hardworking in their different capacities demonstrating hard work and commitment”, he noted
The king who was given award alongside service chiefs and security officers for their contributions to national unity, peace, security and human development, sees the Africa Security Watch Awards, as an avenue to demonstrate that Nigerians are very hardworking citizens of the world.