Hands-Off Cuba, Nigerian And Other African Countries Urges USA

African nations comprising of Ghana, Tanzania and Gambia on Monday converged in Abuja joining their voices to demand the lifting of sanctions imposed on the Republic of Cuba by the United States of America(USA).

The president of the Nigerian labour congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba said this at the opening ceremony of the 6th Solidarity with Cuba meeting held at Yar’Adua Centre, to pressure the USA government to lift its over 50-year blockade on Cuba.

The three days event is expected to end on Wednesday, September 25, with a solidarity protest march to the USA Embassy in Nigeria with the demand to the USA government to ‘Hand Off Cuba”.

According to Comrade Waba, the celebration of Cuba and its friendship with the African people cannot be complete without speaking up strongly for them.

He said motivation for the meeting was to affirm international support and solidarity with Cuba and to demand respect for Cuba’s right to self-determination and sovereignty.

“For the umpteenth time, we call on the United States and its western allies to lift the economic blockade against the people of Cuba.

“The thought that Cuba will collapse after a few years has now been debunked by the resilience of the Cuban people these past sixty years and counting.

“We believe that if the Cuban people and government could build such great education, health and public service institutions in spite of decades of blockade, Cuba will compete with the most advanced countries of the world if the prison doors are opened.

“We also call on western countries to quit interfering in the sovereignty of nations.”

Wabba added that Africa was not in true solidarity with Cuba if she fails to show love to other Africans.

He noted that the recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa would not have happened, if the region truly share in the Cuban ideals of a shared humanity.

Also speaking, the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, noted that Cuba had made efforts in times past to help African countries in their time of need.

Onu said the NLC has shown commitment with the solidarity mandate, thanking the union for efforts to raise consciousness about the sacrifice of Cuba for independence of some countries.

The Minister noted that during the Ebola pandemic, Cuba sent no fewer than 400 doctors to African countries to curb the spread, calling on Nigerians to imbibe culture of patriotism and self reliant.

“Nigeria must do more to lead Africa and other countries globally, we must put the Xenophobic attack from South Africa aside and provide the needed leadership for liberation of Africa.

” When we do this, it will help to provide leadership, a new civilisation to rise, stronger and respected all over the world.

In his remarks, the chairman of the occasion, Mr. Dipo Fashina, said “we have to cement our belief that Cuba must be defended. Cuba must surmount the revolution there.