CAMPBELL WORKING FOR JONATHAN'S POLITICAL OPPONENT – AMB ADEFUYE

The Nigerian Ambassador to the United States of America, Prof. Ade Adefuye, has alleged that the former US envoy to Nigeria, Mr. John Campbell, was being used by an opposition in Nigeria hence his predictions that there would be a military coup whether President Goodluck Jonathan wins the 2011 presidential polls or not.

Ambassador Adefuye hinted that Campbell might not be re-issued Nigerian visa when the one he has now expires.

The Federal government, is said to be accusing Campbell of working for a particular presidential aspirant in the 2011 presidential election, as he currently serves in the board of a private university in the North-east geo-political zone, saying that Campbell was being used by politicians who were bent on ensuring that the 2011 elections were discredited by the international community, despite President Jonathan's repeated assurances to conduct credible elections.

Adefuye, while fielding questions from newsmen 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. Campbell, in his book, Nigeria: Dancing on the Brink billed for release in November, had warned that 'the 2011 presidential elections pose a threat to Nigeria's stability,' saying 'the end of a power-sharing arrangement between the Muslim North and the Christian South, as now seems likely, could lead to post-election sectarian violence, paralysis of the executive branch and even a coup.'

The ex-envoy who served in Nigeria between 2004 and 2007, in the book, which would be published by Rowman & Littlefield, said the 2011 elections could tear Nigeria apart, asking that 'is there anything the Obama administration can do to help the country avoid North-south conflict or a military coup?'

According to Campbell who is the Ralph Bunche Senior Fellow for Africa Policy Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, 'the 2011 elections in Nigeria, scheduled for January 22, 2011 pose a threat to the stability of the United States' most important partner in West Africa.'

He said the end of a power-sharing arrangement between the Muslim North and the Christian South, as now seems likely, could lead to post-election sectarian violence, paralysis of the executive branch and even a coup.

Campbell, though writing in his personal capacity, opined that 'the Obama administration has little leverage over the conduct and outcome of the elections  and if the vote does lead to chaos, Washington may no longer be able to count on Nigerian partnership in addressing African regional and security issues such as the conflicts in Darfur, Southern Sudan, and Somalia.'

But in a swift reaction, the Nigerian ambassador dismissed the claims by Campbell describing him as a prophet of doom, urging both Nigerians and the international community to ignore the diplomat as his views did not represent that of the US. He said in a statement: 'When my attention was first drawn to John Campbell's second write up within a week of his earlier write up titled, 'Nigeria on the Brink' to which I replied, I was initially tempted to agree with the suggestion to ignore the attention-seeking and disingenuous prophet of doom.'

He said, 'the strength of that suggestion lies in the fact that John Campbell's view does not represent that of the current American administration. He is now retired. Moreover, John Campbell, I am told belongs to a small minority of observers of the Nigerian situation who are jocularly referred to as the pessimists.

'But I later thought of the need to point out some contradictions in his thesis and hope that he will let Nigeria be. Within a period of two weeks, John Campbell had predicted the worst case scenario for post-2011 elections Nigeria based on half truths, contradictory statements, serious bias, ignorance and mischievous intentions,' he stated further.'