CG Musa And The Canadian Snub: Imperative For Reciprocity, By Yahaya Kana Ismaila
By Yahaya Kana Ismaila
The news of Canada’s visa denial to Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Gwabin Musa, is a troubling development that should not go unnoticed. According to some reports, the Canadian embassy in Nigeria cited alleged human rights abuses by the Nigerian military as the reason for declaring CG Musa persona non grata. This decision, coming at a time when CG Musa was set to lead a Nigerian delegation to a veterans’ competition in Canada, is not just an insult to his person and the good people of Nigeria, but a diplomatic slight to the country as a whole.
While speaking at the maiden annual lecture of the Alumni Association of the National Institute for Security Studies in Lagos, on Thursday, 13th of February, 2025, where he was Chairman of the event, CG Musa confirmed the visa denial, while revealing that half of his team had already travelled before the other half, including himself, was denied entry. Although, the inexplicable delay in taking the Visa denial decision raises several questions, we must demand answers to some very important questions. Like, was this a case of diplomatic oversight, or was it a calculated move to embarrass Nigeria’s highest-ranking military officer? More importantly, does Canada believe it can treat Nigeria’s military leadership with such disregard and escape consequences?
CG Musa’s response to the Canadian Maple Syrup drama was measured, matured but powerful. He declared that “this is just a clear reminder to us, that we are on our own, that we need to stand strong as a nation so that nobody takes us for granted”. His words reflect an uncomfortable truth: for far too long, Nigeria has been treated as an afterthought on the global stage. Western nations dictate terms to us at will, and we have allowed it. While some of the blame rests on past leadership that failed to assert Nigeria’s position in world affairs, there comes a time when a nation must say, “enough is enough.”
It is difficult to understand how Canada could invite the Nigerian military to an event, allow part of the delegation to enter, and then abruptly deny visas to the rest, including the CDS who is the team lead. This is not the treatment one expects for the military leadership of Africa’s largest nation. Would Canada dare to treat the military heads of the United States, France, or even India this way? The answer is obvious. Nigeria is being taken for granted, and this must stop.
The irony is that Canada, which now sits in judgment of Nigeria’s human rights record, has benefitted immensely from the skills of Nigerian professionals. When Canada faced a shortage of critical workers to power its industries, it was Nigerians who answered the call. Our doctors, engineers, and IT specialists—trained at Nigeria’s expense—migrated in large numbers, helping to sustain Canada’s workforce. Many may argue that Nigerians left for better opportunities, but in the grand scheme of things, Canada has benefitted more from Nigeria’s educational investments than Nigeria itself. it, therefore, amounts to hypocrisy to accept a country’s critical talents but refuse its institutions.
The audacity to turn around now and humiliate Nigeria’s top military officer in such a manner is not only disrespectful but reeks of hypocrisy. If human rights abuses were truly the concern, why does Canada maintain warm diplomatic relations with countries that have far worse records? Why does it not apply the same scrutiny to its close allies who have been accused of war crimes in multiple conflicts? Selective outrage is not morality; it is politics and well meaning Nigerians should refuse to be tainted by this. Playing politics over an event organised to raise the morale of injured war veterans across the world is low, even by Canada’s standards.
Yet, the targeting of CG Musa raises another troubling question. Why now? Under his leadership, the Nigerian military has made significant strides in the fight against terrorism. Boko Haram and ISWAP have suffered serious setbacks, and high-profile “camera-genic” criminals like Bello Turji are no longer operating with impunity and have in fact been forced to start reconsidering their career choices.
So, could the targetting of CG Musa be connected to the recently released open secret that some international aid organisations have been implicated in funding terrorism in Nigeria? Could it be that Musa’s crackdown is making certain external actors uncomfortable? The idea may seem far-fetched, but history has shown that geopolitical interests often override principles in international relations.
This visa denial cannot simply be dismissed with words of condemnation. Besides Nuhu Ribadu’s initial response of “go to wutan jahannama”, Nigeria must respond in a way that ensures such disrespect does not happen again. And we must start by recalling the other half of the team that was allowed entry. Then, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should summon the Canadian High Commissioner or Ambassador or whatever the head of the Canadian diplomatic mission in Nigeria is called to provide a formal explanation.
Beyond that, Nigeria must begin to reconsider how it treats diplomats from countries that do not accord it the respect it deserves. Reciprocity is a fundamental principle of diplomacy. I’m sure if we have been ruthless with other dignitaries visiting Nigeria, this undiplomatic behaviour will not persist. If Nigeria’s highest-ranking military officer can be subjected to this treatment, then we should not hesitate to review how we treat Canadian officials in our country. Simple!
I think one of the most disappointing aspects of this incident is the reaction of some Nigerians. Rather than seeing this as an attack on Nigeria’s sovereignty, some are celebrating it because it alligns with their political biases. This is a dangerous mindset. There is a time for patriotism and a time for politics, and unfortunately, too many Nigerians are unable to separate the two. The Nigerian military, like any other, has its flaws. But to use this as an excuse to justify the humiliation of a national institution by a nation whose national boundaries are under threats of being reviewed all the way to Ottawa is shortsighted at best.
No military in the world has a spotless record. Western nations that claim the moral high ground have been involved in military excesses far worse than anything Nigeria has been accused of. From the levelling of Gaza to the disastrous wars in Afghanistan and Vietnam, history is filled with instances of Western armies committing actions that make Nigeria’s alleged infractions look like child’s play. Yet, they are never held to the same standards. Why, then, should Nigeria continue to tolerate such hypocrisy?
Nigeria must wake up. We must collectively wake up as a people. This is not just about CG Musa or the Nigerian military. It is about our national dignity. We must stop allowing ourselves to be treated as a second-class nation. Our institutions must work for us, and our diplomacy must be guided by the principle of mutual respect. Where our military officers err, we have the legal and institutional frameworks to deal with them. But we should no longer accept lectures from countries that pick and choose when to uphold human rights based on their interests.
The days of tolerating diplomatic insults must come to an end. If we do not respond firmly now, this will not be the last time Nigeria faces such embarrassment. The world only respects nations that stand up for themselves. It is time for Nigeria to demand the respect it deserves.
Yahaya writes from Kana in Nasarawa LG of Nasarawa State and can be reached at kanaismail@yahoo.com
