March 18, 2009
Press Release-19th of March, 2009-Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press: Allow us to use this opportunity and your media to thank everyone who heeded our call to come out yesterday for the Protest at the Zayed Theatre, New Academic Building of the London School of Economics, London, which was the venue that hosted General Olusegun Obasanjo, Nigeria’s former president and the target of our protest.
We are particularly impressed by the true “United Nations” of world citizens who stood shoulder to shoulder to bravely tell the world what we think of the decision of the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon to appoint a character like General Olusegun Obasanjo as the organization’s special envoy in the Congo.
We have given our reasons in an earlier Statement, titled, “General Olusegun Obasanjo: A Monster As Statesman”, issued by our Convenor, Mr Kayode Ogundamisi and we stand by those accusations against General Olusegun Obasanjo in that piece. If the United Nations insists that such a man represents our collective values of freedom, decency and peace in the Congo, then those of us who think the organization represents us really need to be afraid. It is our well considered view that the United Nations simply has to do better.
We will continue to do our nation proud. We will continue to do Africa and our world proud. We remain in the vanguard of the struggle to give Africa credible representation at the United Nations high table. General Obasanjo simply does not measure up. He does not represent the new and positive impulses coming out of our continent. He lacks the credibility, will and moral stature to mediate in the Congo. We made that point yesterday and will insist on it until the United Nations does the right thing. They have the capacity to do the right thing and we believe they will
Finally, we must use this opportunity to thank the officers and men of the Metropolitan Police who courteously and professionally took charge of the day. We are proud of our membership and everyone who came there under our banner for the way and manner they conducted themselves. We are convinced that the usual apathy showed by Nigerians for public protests of this nature is now giving way to informed participation. We shall continue to encourage this attitude and shall continue to call you out for worthy causes when necessary.
Thank you.
Signed:
Kayode Ogundamisi
Jonah Adamu
(For and on behalf of Nigeria Liberty Forum)
We are particularly impressed by the true “United Nations” of world citizens who stood shoulder to shoulder to bravely tell the world what we think of the decision of the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon to appoint a character like General Olusegun Obasanjo as the organization’s special envoy in the Congo.
We have given our reasons in an earlier Statement, titled, “General Olusegun Obasanjo: A Monster As Statesman”, issued by our Convenor, Mr Kayode Ogundamisi and we stand by those accusations against General Olusegun Obasanjo in that piece. If the United Nations insists that such a man represents our collective values of freedom, decency and peace in the Congo, then those of us who think the organization represents us really need to be afraid. It is our well considered view that the United Nations simply has to do better.
We will continue to do our nation proud. We will continue to do Africa and our world proud. We remain in the vanguard of the struggle to give Africa credible representation at the United Nations high table. General Obasanjo simply does not measure up. He does not represent the new and positive impulses coming out of our continent. He lacks the credibility, will and moral stature to mediate in the Congo. We made that point yesterday and will insist on it until the United Nations does the right thing. They have the capacity to do the right thing and we believe they will
Finally, we must use this opportunity to thank the officers and men of the Metropolitan Police who courteously and professionally took charge of the day. We are proud of our membership and everyone who came there under our banner for the way and manner they conducted themselves. We are convinced that the usual apathy showed by Nigerians for public protests of this nature is now giving way to informed participation. We shall continue to encourage this attitude and shall continue to call you out for worthy causes when necessary.
Thank you.
Signed:
Kayode Ogundamisi
Jonah Adamu
(For and on behalf of Nigeria Liberty Forum)
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