A Nigerian Senate member calls the Libyan leader a "mad man" over the latter's proposal to split Nigeria into a Christian and a Muslim state. Religious leaders call the proposal "evil". On Thursday, March 19th, Nigeria recalled its ambassador to Libya.
Muammar Gadaffi's remarks to African students, recommending a split-up of Nigeria, have been given much attention in the country. Politicians, religious leaders and civil society have reacted strongly, calling Mr Gaddafi anything from "mad" to "evil", "ignorant", "reckless" and "inflammatory".
The issue was brought up in the Nigerian Senate Thursday, where Senator Anyim Ude showed the assembly a national newspaper entitled "Split Nigeria", asking for a consideration if "inflammatory statements" also from abroad should be condemned.
Senate leader David Mark swiftly answered Mr Ude: "With all due respect, why do you want to give a mad man that level of publicity?" referring to Mr Gadaffi. "A mad man who said the same thing about Switzerland; he said the same thing about England; he said the same thing about every other country and then you want to give that any other prominence at all," Mr. Mark went on.
But Nigerian Senators still wanted to talk about the Libyan leader when meeting the press after the session, exclusively in negative terms. Senators were angered by the "balkanisation" proposal, which they said would yield much more bloodshed. Senator Otaru Ohize said Mr. Gaddafi was "not wishing Nigeria well."...... www.thegambiajournal.com
Haruna.
