Elder statesman and former Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Ameh Ebute, has replied the US Congressman Tom Marino over his controversial secret letter to the US Secretary of State, John Kerry demanding an unreserved apology to the country.

The Senator in his letter to Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister reminded Marino that Nigeria under President Muhammadu Buhari and the current military leadership has degraded the Boko Haram insurgents even without the promised US support that Marino wants to deprive the country of.

Senator Ebute said the essence of that letter by the Congressman was to block the offer of assistance in fighting insurgency that Kerry made during his recent visit to Nigeria.

He however, reminded the Congressman that from the onset, the offer of assistance was not to Nigeria in the real sense, “since we are already defeating Boko Haram but is a gesture that would go a long way to secure the West Africa sub-region from terrorism that has become of global concern.”

He said to the extent that a Nigeria free of terrorism will contribute to a more secured world and the Americans would actually be helping themselves by offering this assistance since that country is the one in the crosshair of terrorists.

The former Senate President said Congressman Marino’s letter contained so many inaccuracies and even outright lies, for which he would have done better whispering those thoughts to the US Secretary of State rather than documenting his myopia in the now infamous letter.

He urged the Federal Government to lodge the appropriate complaints against the congressman using the appropriate diplomatic channels, adding that “on the domestic front, we should intensify efforts at building our local capacity.”

He said: “His uncouth letter was driven in the belief that his country remains an imperial lord over Nigeria and other nations and that is a sentiment that we must not give room to if we hope to move ahead as a people.

“I therefore crave your indulgence to use your office to send a strong message to Congressman Tom Marino, the US Congress and the United States Government that the era of imperialism is over and discussions about mutual cooperation should not be exploited to pass ignorant judgment on Nigeria or any other nation for that matter.”

According to him, the US also has its own security challenges, saying as at the middle of this year, the number of persons mowed down by Police bullets in the US topped 160 and counting as the year progressed.

He said: “Nigeria must in an unequivocal voice tell Congressman Marino to remove the log in his country’s eye before attempting to remove the speck in ours. It takes a lot of hypocrisy to accuse Nigeria’s security and military of committing extra judicial killings when law enforcement officers in Congressman Marino’s own country now carry out daily extra-judicial executions against persons of particular racial background.”

Ebute compared the Congressman to Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose, saying he is only playing to the gallery.

He said: “As a Republican candidate in Pennsylvania’s 10th District, Marino was in danger of being fired by the US Department of Justice due to questions about his effectiveness.

“This consideration was later given credibility with Marino’s reported ethics shenanigans and alleged mob ties. Here is the character that wants to lecture the world on how Nigeria should be run.”

•Photo shows Ex-Senate President Ameh Ebute.

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