Friday, September 2, 2011

Nigeria tightens security against gadafi's men


The Federal
Government
has tightened
security at its
borders with Chad, Niger,
Cameroon and Benin Republic
to prevent the infiltration of
Muammar Gaddafi’s forces.
The government was not
forced to recognise the
Transitional National Council
(TNC) in Libya by NATO, the US
and the UK, a source said
yesterday.
As at press time last night, 34
African countries had
recognised the Libyan
Transitional National Council,
underscoring the fact that
beleaguered Gaddafi has lost
out in the African Union (AU).
Gaddafi ruled the country with
an iron fist. Its regime would
have been 42 years old
yesterday.
A top government official,
who spoke in confidence with
some reporters, including The
Nation’s in Abuja, said the
government considered the
security implications before
recognising the TNC.
The official said: “I think there
is no cause for alarm over the
security of this country,
following our recognition of
the TNC as the authentic
government in Libya.
“But our security agencies
have been placed on the alert
in our borders with Niger,
Chad, Cameroon and Benin
Republic to prevent the
infiltration of forces loyal to
Gaddafi.
“We took this step because
we have realised that some of
the problems we have are
exported problems. We won’t
allow those anti-democratic
forces in Libya to enter our
country.
“We won’t allow any spillover
of those elements against
change in Libya from coming
into Nigeria.”
Security was tightened at the
National Assembly yesterday.
The official also insisted that
the ties with the TNC in Libya
would bring more security
advantage to Nigeria than the
case under Gaddafi.
He added: “If we are still on
the fence, we would have
exposed our country to more
security dangers from the TNC
in Libya that will soon take
over the government in that
country.
“By the end of September
when the TNC finally takes
over Libya, the era of
democracy, rule of law and
fundamental human rights
will set in. Therefore, Libya will
no longer be a training
ground for insurrection and
insurgents as the case during
the tenure of Gaddafi.”
On the recognition of the TNC
by the Federal Government – a
decision many thought was
influenced by external forces -
the official said: “This decision
was not imposed on us by the
US, NATO or any foreign
power.
“When the die was cast,
Nigeria had to provide
leadership to save the
situation in Libya. So far,
Nigeria’s stand has been
vindicated because not less
than 34 AU members have
recognised the TNC in Libya.
“Even Russia, which was
hitherto an ally of Gaddafi, has
teamed up with many
countries. Russia was part of
the 60 nations that met in
France to hold a session as
Friends of Libya Group.
“Nigeria did not attend the
session in France to prove
that its position on Libya was
not tele-guided by any foreign
country at all.”
The cabinet official gave
details of how the Federal
Government came to accept
the TNC in Libya.
He added: “Contrary to
insinuations, we did not take
a hasty decision at all. Right
from the outset, we realised
that the Libyan crisis was a
very delicate one and we had
handled it that way for so
long. We just kept quiet.
“Later, we had many sessions
debating Libya, even at the
Nigeria Institute for
International Affairs (NIIA). It
was when the AU’s roadmap,
designed by its Ad hoc
Committee, led by President
Jacob Zuma, failed that we
opted for an alternative that
will lead Africa to take a
decision on Libya.
“Our decision on TNC was
guided by two things. These
are: National interest and the
feeling we had for the people
of Libya who have been
suffering.
“Nigeria’s foreign policy is
tailored towards the
promotion of democracy,
freedom, good governance
and human rights. These are
the priorities of the TNC; we
have no choice than to back
the group - in line with our
national interest.
“By the time we accepted the
TNC, the rebels had arrived in
Tripoli and the exit of Gaddafi
was obvious. Why must we
continue to back a wrong
horse?
“Immediately we backed the
TNC, over 34 African countries
announced recognition for
the group.”
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