Nigeria on Tuesday expressed concerns over the decision of the US to exclude it from participating in the US rapper Nicki Minaj’s event on the alleged killings of Nigerians of a specific faith group.
The Chargé d’Affaires, Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the UN, Mr Syndoph Endoni, said the decision to exclude Nigeria from the discussion held at the UN headquarters in New York amounted to “shaving our head in our absence”.
The Minaj event, which was held at the UN headquarters in New York in collaboration with the Permanent Mission of the US to the UN, was against the background of the ongoing accusation by the U.S. alleging Christian persecution in Nigeria.
US President Donald Trump had recently designated Nigeria as “a Country of Particular Concern” over alleged Christian genocide in the country.
“It is important to ensure the country concerned in the ongoing allegations of genocide against Christians is present, aware and has a voice in the matter.
“This is because you should not make important decisions or take action on something that involves a country without their presence or consent.”
Endoni said by refusing Nigeria’s participation, the U.S. authorities had denied Nigeria the right and opportunity to tell its own side of the story.
The Nigerian envoy expressed disappointment that a few countries were allowed to participate in the event, querying the rationale for shutting Nigeria out.
He said, “We asked the US authorities if it was okay to continue to shave someone’s hair in his absence.
“We further highlighted that the Nigerian government is not standing idly by to watch the atrocities perpetrated by the criminals”.
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