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The
Nigerian government has lashed out at US media giant Cable News
Network, CNN, for its unflattering portrayal of Nigerian citizens in a
piece titled “How to rob a bank.” The federal government called the
report “a malicious and denigrating portrayal of Nigeria based on the
alleged criminal activities of a few Nigerians supposedly resident in
the United States, particularly in Houston.”
The government called on CNN to “take urgent steps to redress this jaundiced, unbalanced and insulting feature on Nigeria.” The
Minister of information and national orientation, Frank Nweke Jr.
complained that the CNN report singled out the Nigerian community in
the United States, and by implication all Nigerians, for denigration.
“Indeed,
out of about 10 persons prominently cited as being involved in this
criminal ring only two are non-Nigerians and the CNN, ostensibly to
make the report credible, featured a Nigerian ex-convict, who out on
the grace of plea bargaining, pronounced that the Nigerians that are
involved with fraud in America will be at least 40 percent of the
criminals. It is indeed curious that CNN could anchor such a report on
the testimony of someone so circumstanced, who in any case would say
anything to remain in the good books of his benefactors.” Nweke said.
“The
problem with reports such as CNN’s which make wild claims like this is
that they violently assault the sensibilities of legion of Nigerians
who, ironically and in a phenomenal way, are positively changing the
fortunes of the United States. Besides, in a profound but uncharitable
manner, this report also reinforces false perceptions and restates
stereotypes, and in an excruciating manner tends to attenuate the
resolve and undermine the efforts of the Nigerian government to stamp
out criminal activities. But this assault will not stop Nigeria’s
determination to combat all manner of criminal activities, including
trans-border crimes.” According to
Nweke, Nigeria is known to have one of the most draconian laws on fraud
and associated crimes and it is one of the few countries where penalty
for fraud and related offences is doubled for culprits. “Increasingly,
our Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and allied establishments
have also collaborated with American law enforcement and intelligence
agents to reduce international crimes. Hence, and as Nigerians know, it
is not true as the report claims that ‘bribery and dishonesty at home
explain what some Nigerians do abroad’” He said. Meanwhile,
the Federal Government has protested this assault on our dignity in
writing to the Chief Executive Officer of CNN, the American Ambassador
to Nigeria and the Counselor for Public Affairs at the US Embassy in
Nigeria. “Nigerians will soon
have an opportunity to express their rejection of this unceasing
penchant, of a section of the international media, for criminalizing
and demonizing our beloved country.” Nweke concluded. |
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Posted by Robot| 12.06.2006 20:45