Grandiose Parlor

18 Responses to “Now a terrorist nation?”

1. Very well written. It is amazing how the stupid act of one man can affect a nation. Like you rightly identified this man’s attempted suicide bombing is not the Nigerian Modus operandi. I suspect that even if he is a Nigerian Passport holder he is not a legit Nigerian. Sadly, even if it comes out in the near future that this man is not Nigerian, it will be too late because this man’s foolishness would have done irreparable damage to all Nigerians.

   By Misi
   December 26, 2009 at 1:12 am

2. The guy is most likely Nigerian now that his supposed father has been identified - a former Chairman of First Bank.

   “The father, Alhaji Umaru Mutallab, a former minister and chairman of First Bank in Nigeria, is shocked that his son was even was allowed to fly to the U.S., family members told the Nigerian newspaper This Day.

   Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2009/12/26/2009-12-26_father_of_umar_farouk_abdul_mutallab_nigerian_terror_suspect_in_flight_253_attac.html#ixzz0apMVonNs
   “

   By jimmy
   December 26, 2009 at 2:10 pm

3. Just thinking, this incident just nailed the coffin on the Nigerian branding project; it’s now 6 feet under and covered in concrete! The show’s over Madam Dora!

   By jimmy
   December 26, 2009 at 4:23 pm

4. Mutallab does appear to be a Nigerian national, but I believe that he took up the radical politics while a student in England. There is no evidence as of yet that he has any connections with Nigerian radical groups such as Boko Haram. From what I have read, the Boko Haram does not draw membership from elite or wealthy strata of Nigerian society.

   By Don Thieme
   December 26, 2009 at 5:00 pm

5. Sad news especially for Nigerians and a headline news we could all do without. Seems confirmed that the madman is Nigerian but like Misi rightly said, this is not a reflection on how Nigerians operate. First Naijas enjoy life too much to become suicide bombers, but then there are fanatics and extremists that abound and they have no regard for human life. Very sad.
   Watched the news clip via CNN and I do not agree with one of the statements made, that NIGERIA IS NOTORIOUS FOR AIRPORT LAPSES. As a frequent flyer to Nigeria, I can say that the security at the airport is very good and this unfortunately does not give credit to the hard work of the guys and dolls there. Shame that Nigeria is nearly almost on the news for the wrong reasons.
   Wake up Nigeria. We cant continue to have our name blacklisted and tainted. Talk of corruption, 419, autocrazy (not mispelt for madness is implied in the rule of law in Nigeria), drug trafficking, political hooliganism and what have you. Dora Akunyili may have the right idea but presented it very wrongly by hyping the word Rebranding and scoring -100 for it.

   Heard right now on Sky news that the man is definitely Nigerian. Described as a Priviledged student who embraced AlQueida!

   Let us all pray and pray for a changed Nigerian in the year 2010. We must not give up hope. Our neighbour Ghana did not and they are doing fine now.
   Regards

   By Omotaylor
   December 26, 2009 at 5:33 pm

6. I hope that people will be fair enough not to brand all Nigerians as terrorists because of this one misguided fellow. I think it’s laudable that his father alerted the authorities when he realised that his son was one a destructive path.

   By Tope O
   December 27, 2009 at 4:17 pm

7. This is the time Nigerian image launders (the information & foreign affairs ministers, the Nigerian Ambassador to the United States & Britain, and their agents) need to get on the American and British news networks and speak up load and clear!

   The security breach is not Nigeria’s fault to bear alone. The Dutch and the Americans also failed in their responsibilities, particularly the latter! It must be difficult for a father to step up and report his son, the way Umar’s father did; Nigerians administrators need to capitalize this.

   By Imnakoya
   December 28, 2009 at 9:48 am

8. Oh Nigeria has spoken alright. I heard and saw our information minister on BBC news but was shocked to hear her say that Muttallab who all over the world is known to be Nigerian and who holds a Nigerian passport “ILLEGALLY SNEAKED” into Nigeria on 24th and left again on the 24th. I need to be educated on this statement… Does a Nigerian with a Nigerian passport qualify to “Illegally sneak into his own country. I just wonder at what image of Nigeria we create when we make such statements. Or have they played so many mind games that they dont even know when and where to stop?

   While other countries touched by this dastardly act i.e. UK, US and Netherlands are working round the clock to piece together the puzzle, Nigeria is not making strong enough statements (at least not so far). I beg our leaders (if we truly have leaders) to please take some pro active steps and make intelligent statements on this matter. This is of International concern, and not the normal in house crime that is all too soon covered up or dressed in other attires to make them look attractive.

   So far, all Kudos to Muttalab’s dad alone. The US in giving the man visa have definitely not done their homework right for as per UK, he was denied visa and put on alert watch. Why didnt US find this out?

   By Omotaylor
   December 28, 2009 at 1:37 pm

9. Don: I’m in totally agreement with your assertion. It’s most likely that Umar made connection with the extremist group while studying in London.

   Omotaylor: I concur, Nigerian spokespersons need not only find their way on the international media, but discuss this matter talk intelligently, as well.

   By Imnakoya
   December 28, 2009 at 3:06 pm

10. @Imnakoya - It is good that you agree with me, although I wish that we did not have such unpleasant things to be discussing here.

    @Tope O - It appears that our African American president of the United States has now unfortunately done what you willed so strongly not to happen. By placing Nigeria on our list of 14 terrorist nations, Obama has indeed “brand all Nigerians as terrorists because of this one misguided fellow.”

    By Don Thieme
    January 6, 2010 at 8:04 am

11. America to me is misguided in placing Nigeria on the terrorist list. Nigeria doesnt deserve that, but that said, Nigeria is a failed nation and will get a lot of stigma and no respect unless there is a change. Looking at Nigerian politics from the outside, it is sadly laughable. What gets me most is that these people who call themselves leaders just carry on unchecked and they now have this “nobody can do zilch to us” attitude. An adage in Nigeria translated to English says “everyday for the thief/thieves, but ONE DAY FOR THE OWNER/S.

    By Omotaylor
    January 6, 2010 at 3:38 pm

12. @Omo - Have you seen the Pew Research poll in which they asked northern Nigerians about their confidence in Osama Bin Laden?

    Something above 40% said they were very confident in him to do the right thing. While I do believe that there is an error in this poll, it does not surprise me that many Nigerians would have confidence in Bin Laden when compared to the candidates from whom they have to choose in their “democratic” elections.

    By Don Thieme
    January 6, 2010 at 7:43 pm

13. I get the drift Don although I didnt or havent seen the research poll. First we must check which part of Nigeria was polled, and I dare say it would be the same part as that producing most of the political wheeler deelers in government, so there is a communial ground (in them accepting Osama BL to Yardyturaiaondoakaa et al).

    Now that it has been made public that Muttallab got his Yemen training while in the UK, will Obama/USA do the right thing and take Nigeria’s name off the terrorist country list? Guess NOT. But no matter what Obama and others do to save face, Nigeria does not deserve that “crown of thorns”. Shame shame shame about the so called leaders who play to the gallery when not playing the fool, and who dont have a clue or respect for the lives of over 150 million people in Nigeria.

    By Omotaylor
    January 7, 2010 at 1:40 pm

14. @Don, sorry meant to ask, what “democratic” lol!!!elections has ever taken place in Nigeria?

    By Omotaylor
    January 7, 2010 at 1:42 pm

15. @Omo - Here is a link to the CNN story about the poll. This was part of a worldwide poll done very rapidly with a lot of questions. I believe that many respondents did not understand the question about OBL:

    http://us.cnn.com/video/?/video/world/2009/12/30/clancy.us.nigerians.cnn

    By Don Thieme
    January 7, 2010 at 7:41 pm

16. Thanks for the link Don. The poll was done at NORTHERN NIGERIA only and this is not balanced. I suppose they understand the question and answered the way they would normally think for there are many radicals in the North. This is not a reflection of the whole of Nigeria.

    Nigeria is not Africa’s largest Democratic Country for we are yet to understand “Democracy”. An uphill struggle for now.

    Regards

    By Omotaylor
    January 8, 2010 at 12:30 pm

17. I must say, this is a very huge slur to the country’s reputation

    By femi
    January 8, 2010 at 2:46 pm

18. Too bad

    By femi
    January 8, 2010 at 2:51 pm

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