It is alleged that recent denial of visa to John Campbell, former United States Ambassador to Nigeria, was deliberate. Our checks reveal that for the past two years, Campbell has become a thorn in flesh of Prof Adefuye. His vociferous, but critical stance
on the policies of President Jonathan has continuously irritated Adefuye, who on many occasions fired back at Campbell. In one of his rejoinders, Adefuye labeled Campbell a “prophet of doom”, and his article, a jaundiced thesis”.
Huhuonline.com investigation reveals that that Prof. Adefuye has been very outspoken about his disdain for the former US envoy, during the 2010 UN summit, in New York, Adefuye was heard telling Journalists that he was going to deal with Campbell, over an unpleasant article the former United States envoy published earlier in the week.
During this tete-a- tete, Ambassador Adefuye hinted that Campbell might not be re-issued Nigerian visa when the one he has expires.
Adefuye, while fielding questions from newsmen in 2010, said. “Since the former US envoy did not see anything good in Nigeria he should not be going to the country to do business as such unguided statement would adversely affect the psyche of Nigerians and foreign investments”.
Also at the Chinua Achebe colloquium in providence, Rhode Island, Prof Adefuye told those who were in attendance that he had plans to deal with Campbell, sources who did not want their name in print, said, Prof. Adefuye told them to wait and see how he was will humiliate Campbell.
When huhuonline.com asked Prof Adefuye, if the denial of visa to Ambassador Campbell was act of retaliation, Ambassador Adefuye said,“First the statement you mentioned is being quoted out of context”.
“It was during a session at the Achebe symposium that I said that in the following session I would deal with Campbell conclusions that Nigeria was on the brink and would disintegrate after the elections”.
“On the visa issue the facts are as follows. The former ambassador applied to go to Yola to attend a meeting of Atiku Abubakars American University of Nigeria”.
“He stated that he was appointed a council member the meeting was to hold on 11 may. We got his application on may5”.
“Every sovereign nation has its own visa procedures and requirement. In our case we require 7 days pre travel application”.
“In addition to the late submission there was no evidence of Campbell’s appointment to the board of the university. We demanded evidence. By the time it was supplied it was obvious that Campbell would not be able to make the meeting in Yola”
“We then asked Campbell to come to our office to provide other reasons for wanting to go to Nigeria. He is yet to come”. His passport is still with us”.
“The next we heard is his leaking to selected newspapers the allegation that we denied him visa”.
“We are a sovereign nation. Anyone who wants to visit our country has to abide by our rules because we abide by the rules of other countries”.
"If we had committed any offence it is our refusal to bend Nigeria’s rule for John Campbell and for that we plead guilty".
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