By Mariam Sanni
Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, General Christopher Musa said the military met all the requirements and passed through the processes in respect of the recent visa application to the Canadian High Commission.
Musa made this known in Abuja when he received the Armed Forces of Nigeria Contingent who won medals at the just concluded Invictus Games in Vancouver, Canada.
The defence chief said most people who made comments against Nigeria’s participation in the sporting event spoke from the point of ignorance.
“On the issue of the denial of the visa, we must not travel abroad. Nigeria is good enough for all of us.
“We had an agreement, we were invited, a programme was sent, we followed our requirements and the process.
“Everybody knows members of the armed forces will never take shortcuts. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, National Security Adviser, NSA, everybody was aware about this journey and we followed the process.
“But for reasons best known to them, most of the teams remember, like the team captain did not go, the medical doctor was not there, the physiotherapist did not go.
“All those that were important for the team were not given visas. And the question is why?
“Well, I am happy that the federal government is also looking at that aspect,’’ he said.
Musa said it is important for people to understand that Nigerians deserve respect all over the world, adding that the country must never accommodate disrespect from anybody.
He commended participants in the games for making Nigeria proud, adding that they left an indelible mark in the hearts of all who have witnessed the journey.
“You are the true embodiment of the invictus spirit, unconquered, unbroken and unstoppable,’’ he added.
The issue of visa denial by Canada had, in the past week, dominated national discourse, with many frowning at the action of the North American country.
