28th December, 2012
JETHRO IBILEKE/Benin
Nigeria’s Edo state government has condemned the recent travel advisory issued by the United States, urging its citizens to avoid some Nigerian states because they are unsafe.
The states include: Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Plateau, Gombe, Yobe, Kaduna, Bauchi, Borno, and Kano.
The US had also banned its officials from travelling to all the 19 northern states except with clearance where necessary.
The travel advisory was issued by the US Bureau of Consular Affairs of the United States Department of State. It listed the State as unsafe for visitors during this holiday season.
A press statement signed by the Secretary to Edo State Government, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, described the travel advisory by the US government which grouped the state among those described as unsafe as laughable and erroneous. While insisting that the State was safe, the statement added that this might suggest that the US Department of State was not in tune with events in Nigeria.
“While we are unclear on the parameters used by the Department of State, we however make bold to state, and this can be confirmed from the security agencies in the country, that Edo state is the safest in the South-South region of Nigeria and one of the safest in the country.
“It beats the imagination of discerning minds that while some states which record violent crimes on a daily basis in the country are excluded from the list, Edo State which has been commended by all, including the World Bank which, through its Country Director, Marie Francoise Marie-Nelly said: ‘Edo state’s social indicators are above the national average’ and which had earlier through her predecessor, Mr. Onno Ruhl said: ‘Edo State is one of the states in Nigeria where the willingness to change is the fastest in Nigeria,’ is included in the offensive US list.
“If the US Department of State could include Edo in its advisory list, then it should also issue a travel warning to citizens of the world to avoid Connecticut where 20 innocent Elementary School Students and six of their teachers were cut down in the confines of their classrooms just two weeks ago.”
“It would do good to also issue a travel advisory to people of the World on New Jersey which, according to the Cable News network (CNN) “has already suffered 65 violent deaths in 2012” and on Philadelphia where the “the year-to-date total of homicides is 322. Last year, 324 were killed.
“While we concede that the security of lives and property is an integral part of development, we make bold to state that no society is eternally perfect,” the statement said.
Prof. Ihonvbere noted that the administration of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has invested heavily on security more than any government before it and that the gains of such investment are there for all to see.
“The Government of Edo State therefore rejects the travel warning issued by the US Department of State and wishes to assure Edo State sons and daughters and other visitors to the state of their safety during their stay,” the statement concluded.