Nigeria responds to New York Times editorial

To the Editor, New York Times

I WAS shocked to read the editorial of February 16, entitled “Nigeria’s Miserable Choices.” First, it was the Independent National Electoral Commission, not President Goodluck Jonathan, who decided to postpone the election, a power it exclusively has under our constitution. INEC Chairman, Attahiru Jega, said publicly “nobody has coerced us… to take this decision.”

Second, while Boko Haram is indeed a serious threat on which we’ve  been making steady progress especially in recent months, the editorial board failed to note Boko Haram’s presence in our country is limited to Northeast Nigeria, where only seven percent of our population lives.

And finally, according to CNN Money, Nigeria’s economy will be the third-fastest growing economy in the world in 2015, approaching seven percent growth. When the New York Times endorsed President Obama for reelection in 2012, the U.S. economy grew at 2.3 percent.  Clearly, the editorial board’s assessment of our “miserable” choices are driven by ignorance or bias, both of which are inexcusable.

• Adebowale Ibidapo Adefuye Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Washington, D.C.