January 21, 2010
Dear Sahara Reporters: I refer to your posting of Thursday 21st January 2010- 13:31 titled Terror Watchlist: Nigerian lawmaker deported from Amsterdam Schiphol. The story suggests that I was travelling to New York and that my visa was revoked and I was deported from Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport because I had “terrorist tendencies”. While I remain an advocate of freedom of the press and free speech, I feel it necessary to set the record straight and correct certain misconceptions that have arisen as a result of the story.
Dear Sahara Reporters: I refer to your posting of Thursday 21st January 2010- 13:31 titled Terror Watchlist: Nigerian lawmaker deported from Amsterdam Schiphol. The story suggests that I was travelling to New York and that my visa was revoked and I was deported from Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport because I had “terrorist tendencies”. While I remain an advocate of freedom of the press and free speech, I feel it necessary to set the record straight and correct certain misconceptions that have arisen as a result of the story.
My name was among those of 20 legislators invited by the University of Kansas to participate in a workshop on cooperation between arms of government in a US-style democracy. I must say I had reservations about attending the programme when I realized we were to travel the same flight route as the accused Christmas day bomber before finally arriving at Kansas. I enquired from one of the organizers of the trip about the wisdom in travelling the route given the prevailing circumstances and was told that our names had been forwarded to the US Embassy and it had assured it had no problem with any of us attending the workshop. Only three of us legislators travelled on the flight from Lagos to Amsterdam and we were actually the last passengers to arrive at the gate to board the US bound flight and as such, I was not “pulled aside” but rather all three of us were subjected to the now rigorous screening process that has become the bane of international travel. At the end of the exercise, my colleagues were allowed to board but I was told that my visa had been cancelled. The gentleman was apologetic and blamed the US Embassy in Nigeria for not informing me before I embarked on my trip. He said he was not given a reason why it was cancelled, so I think for now it is a bit hasty to conclude that it was because I had “terrorist tendencies”.
At that point, I took the decision to return to Nigeria to my legislative duties and to also write to the US Embassy to find out the reasons why my visa had been cancelled, if indeed it had been. I have a two-year multiple entry visa in my passport which was still valid when I embarked on my journey. I voluntarily and solitarily went to the KLM counter and changed my booking to return to Nigeria and as such, I am of the opinion that it would be inaccurate to say that I was deported. Had I chose to, I could have gone into Amsterdam (I have a valid Schengen visa) or flown to London (I also have a valid UK visa).
I have never been accused of having terrorist tendencies nor have ever known anyone suspected of being a terrorist. I am also a believer in the basic tenets of democracy, freedom of movement, freedom of religion and universal human rights. I was certainly not part of any delegation visiting the New York and am actually a member of the opposition All Nigeria Peoples Party. As a student of international relations, I fully appreciate the right of any country to issue and withdraw visas from the citizens of other nations at their own discretion. I am however a practicing Muslim who cherishes life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I am also a Fulani from Northern Nigeria whose culture and creed has no tolerance for terrorism or suicide. Taking one’s life or that of another due to a difference in beliefs is totally alien to my value system. Some of the comments posted appear to assume I am a veteran government official who has finally got his comeuppance for living off the misery of others. I would like to say that I have subsisted off my private life and ventured into politics because I felt I could help make a difference. Going into the House of Representatives in 2007 is my first ever public position.
I must say that I am a regular visitor to your website and admire your tenacity and integrity- but in this particular case, the record must be set straight.
Thank you for the opportunity to set the record straight.
Sincere regards
Yusuf Maitama Tuggar
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My name was among those of 20 legislators invited by the University of Kansas to participate in a workshop on cooperation between arms of government in a US-style democracy. I must say I had reservations about attending the programme when I realized we were to travel the same flight route as the accused Christmas day bomber before finally arriving at Kansas. I enquired from one of the organizers of the trip about the wisdom in travelling the route given the prevailing circumstances and was told that our names had been forwarded to the US Embassy and it had assured it had no problem with any of us attending the workshop. Only three of us legislators travelled on the flight from Lagos to Amsterdam and we were actually the last passengers to arrive at the gate to board the US bound flight and as such, I was not “pulled aside” but rather all three of us were subjected to the now rigorous screening process that has become the bane of international travel. At the end of the exercise, my colleagues were allowed to board but I was told that my visa had been cancelled. The gentleman was apologetic and blamed the US Embassy in Nigeria for not informing me before I embarked on my trip. He said he was not given a reason why it was cancelled, so I think for now it is a bit hasty to conclude that it was because I had “terrorist tendencies”.
At that point, I took the decision to return to Nigeria to my legislative duties and to also write to the US Embassy to find out the reasons why my visa had been cancelled, if indeed it had been. I have a two-year multiple entry visa in my passport which was still valid when I embarked on my journey. I voluntarily and solitarily went to the KLM counter and changed my booking to return to Nigeria and as such, I am of the opinion that it would be inaccurate to say that I was deported. Had I chose to, I could have gone into Amsterdam (I have a valid Schengen visa) or flown to London (I also have a valid UK visa).
I have never been accused of having terrorist tendencies nor have ever known anyone suspected of being a terrorist. I am also a believer in the basic tenets of democracy, freedom of movement, freedom of religion and universal human rights. I was certainly not part of any delegation visiting the New York and am actually a member of the opposition All Nigeria Peoples Party. As a student of international relations, I fully appreciate the right of any country to issue and withdraw visas from the citizens of other nations at their own discretion. I am however a practicing Muslim who cherishes life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I am also a Fulani from Northern Nigeria whose culture and creed has no tolerance for terrorism or suicide. Taking one’s life or that of another due to a difference in beliefs is totally alien to my value system. Some of the comments posted appear to assume I am a veteran government official who has finally got his comeuppance for living off the misery of others. I would like to say that I have subsisted off my private life and ventured into politics because I felt I could help make a difference. Going into the House of Representatives in 2007 is my first ever public position.
I must say that I am a regular visitor to your website and admire your tenacity and integrity- but in this particular case, the record must be set straight.
Thank you for the opportunity to set the record straight.
Sincere regards
Yusuf Maitama Tuggar
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