Former National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Chairman, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, has criticised Nigeria’s military leadership following their denied visa applications to attend the Invictus Winter Games in Canada, calling the situation an embarrassment to the nation.
In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, Odinkalu questioned the judgment behind sending a 70-member military delegation, led by Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Christopher Musa, to winter games while Nigeria faces serious security challenges.
“How does anyone justify a delegation of over 70 officers led by the CDS to Invictus Winter Games? When did Nigeria start doing winter?!” Odinkalu wrote, highlighting the unusual nature of a tropical West African nation participating in winter sports events.
The former NHRC chairman also raised concerns about the visa application process, questioning why such a high-level military delegation would apply for visas without coordinating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He criticised the subsequent response from government officials, including the National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, to the visa denials.
“Instead of acknowledging a terrible own goal and apologising, we have a disgraceful line-up of senior cabinet members, led by Nuhu Ribadu and including freelancing ministers, making the government look more stupid,” Odinkalu stated.
He called for an investigation into the incident and suggested that the Nigerian government should apologise to the Canadian High Commission rather than criticising their decision. “We may be lawless, but other countries are not obliged to follow us in that,” he added.
The incident has sparked broader discussions about government accountability and the allocation of military resources in light of Nigeria’s ongoing security challenges.
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