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Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.

Get us off that list: Nigerians are not terrorists!

Get us off that list: Nigerians are not terrorists!

Closed — 129 supporters Verified

Final supporters

M
MAJEKODUNMI W.
A
Adewale -.
A
Adesola A.
C
Chinyere A.
A
Alex A.
R
REGGIE J.
G
Gavin D.
E
Emmanuel A.
D
Dr A.
E
Evwierhoma O.
+119 more
Started by Anonymous 16 years, 7 months ago
The US released a list of 14 countries —Nigeria, Afghanistan, Algeria, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Syria, Yemen, Cuba , Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Saudi Arabia and Sudan – with directives that passengers travelling from these countries to it by air face extra security screening. This screening includes body-pat and carry-on baggage checks. Thus, the aim of this petition is: Getting NIGERIA off that ignoble, undeserved list. That singular, typically un-Nigerian act of a certain Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab put a big question mark on the sincerity of 150 million people who are already sick of name-callings. For 50 long years of independence, this action has been unheard-of, unseen in Nigeria or even outside Nigeria by a TYPICAL NIGERIAN even if he/she was brought up outside its shores. Nigeria has contributed the 4th largest contingent to UN peacekeeping missions for over 5 decades now. We have produced world-class citizens including the father of the internet, Philip Emeagwali, World Bank chiefs, Okonjo-Iweala and Oby Ezekwesili, Commonwealth secretary-general, Emeka Anyaoku, Nobel Peace Prize winner Wole Soyinka amongst others. We hosted the USA and the Netherlands in the just concluded FIFA U-17 world Cup in Kano, the territory where Farouk hails from, and nothing happened to them. Countries which have 300% more of their citizens involved in terror attacks against the USA since 9/11 were never listed. Why list Nigeria? NOW WE SAY: GET US OFF THAT LIST! It beats our imagination to think: how can a people proven to be the happiest people on the face of the earth be listed as terrorists? That VALUE FOR LIFE IS OUR TRADEMARK. To show how responsible the typical Nigerian parent is, the elder Abdulmutallab informed the US embassy of his uncomfortable thoughts about his son, Farouk. This is not about a north, south,east or west thing. This is not about religion. It is about a long held traditional attribute of Nigerians: perseverance and love of life, broken by this unfortunate incident. We are chagrined by such misbehaviour DURING a long-sought RE-BRANDING PROCESS. Do please forward this link to as many people as possible. Nigerians and Non-Nigerians alike. Thanking you ahead.

Updates

January 11, 2010

The silence from the authorities remains painful but it only confirms that we must keep pushing for our dignity. Reading your comments about how this policy unfairly targets our brothers and sisters keeps my resolve strong.

January 11, 2010

Seeing this momentum grow feels like a weight lifting off my chest because our dignity is not up for negotiation. People from every corner of the world are finally acknowledging that the actions of one individual do not define the spirit of my fellow Nigerians. This surge of support proves that the world sees our true character beyond these unfair labels.

6 Comments

C
Chinedu Farah
16 years ago Featured

Ridiculous profiling. One person does not define a whole country. Take us off the list immediately.

A
Amaka Townsend
16 years ago Featured

We are peaceful people. Stop grouping us with terrorists. Enough is enough.

I
Ifeoma Fleming
16 years ago Featured

My brother travels for business all the time and he is terrified of the airport now. stop the harassment.

D
David Porter
16 years ago Featured

total nonsense. my taxes and my family shouldnt be treated like criminals constantly because of some ridiculous airline policy.

T
Tunde Foster
16 years ago Featured

STIGMATIZATION! Why are we being punished for one mans actions? This just isnt right.

S
Sarah Stewart
16 years ago Featured

This is so unfair. We have peacekeepers all over the world and this is how we get treated? Fix this.