By Emmanuel Nduka
Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, has fiercely criticized the Canadian High Commission for refusing visas to the country’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and other senior military officials.
The diplomatic row erupted on Thursday after Musa revealed, during the inaugural lecture of the National Association of the Institute for Security Studies, AANISS, in Abuja, that half of his delegation was denied visas to attend an event in Canada honoring war veterans.
General Musa expressed disappointment, noting that while he and part of the team were invited to the event to honor wounded veterans, only some members of the delegation received approval. He remarked that the experience, though disheartening, underscored the need for Nigeria to stand firm on the international stage and not tolerate such dismissals.
In a sharp rebuke, Ribadu praised Musa for his candidness and expressed his frustration, saying, “Thank you for having the courage to speak out. Canada can go to hell”. Ribadu reinforced Nigeria’s strength and peace despite the setback, calling for resilience in the face of international challenges.
Heritage Times HT reports that the controversy has also shed light on Nigeria’s commitment to improving its national security.
Ribadu lauded Musa’s leadership, highlighting the collaboration between the military and various security agencies in tackling Nigeria’s internal security issues.
