Nigeria will not tolerate any form of disrespect from any country against its citizens. The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, said this yesterday.
He was firing back at the Canadian High Commission which denied him and some military top brass visas to travel for the Invictus games in Vancouver, Canada, last week.
CDS spoke at the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), Abuja, after receiving the wounded soldiers that participated in the event in Canada.
Gen. Musa said that Nigerians were being treated unfairly by some countries.
The CDS and some military chiefs, who were scheduled to attend the Invictus games, were denied visas by the Canadian High Commission in Nigeria.
The action was condemned by the Federal Government, with the National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu and the Interior Minister, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, describing it as unacceptable.
Speaking further, the CDS also dismissed insinuations from some quarters that members of the armed forces were not invited to participate in the Invictus games initiated by the Duke of Sussex.
Giving an insight into what transpired during the preparation for the programme, Gen. Musa said they followed all the due process and that every concerned government official including Ministers and NSA were aware.
He said: “On the issue of the denial of the visa, it must be tackled at all abroad. Nigeria is good enough for all of us. We had an agreement, we were invited, the programme was sent to us, we followed our requirements; we followed the process.
“Everybody knows members of the Armed Forces, we will never take shortcuts. The Foreign Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of State, the NSA, everybody is aware about this journey, and we followed the process.
“But for reasons best known to them, most of the members of the team were denied visas. You remember, the team captain did not go. The medical doctor was not there. The physiotherapist did not go. All those that were important for the team were not given visas. And the question is why?
“Well, I’m happy that the federal government is also looking at those aspects. I think it’s important for people to understand that we deserve respect as Nigerians all over the world. We must never accommodate disrespect from anybody because we are a good country.
“For our Indigenous guests participating, you have made Nigeria proud. Your courage and determination have left an indelible mark on the hearts of all who have witnessed your journey. You are the true embodiment of the Indigenous spirit, unconquered, unbroken, and unstoppable.”
Gen. Musa assured that some of the military officers who have their legs and hands amputated or have other deformation, won’t be abandoned as some people want it to be.
