Nigeria - Obama's adviser resigns over Niger Delta comments

September 8th, 2009

 

 

Abuja (NIgeria) - Environmental adviser to United States President Barack Obama, Mr. Van Jones, who said that the oil companies are killing "blacks" in Nigeria has resigned.

In a statement, he accused opponents of mounting a smear campaign against him.

Jones's statement partly reads: "On the eve of historic fights for healthcare and clean energy, opponents of reform have mounted a vicious smear campaign."

His remarks about Nigeria was in reference to environmental degradation in the Niger Delta caused by multinational oil companies.

The Washington Times reports that Jones made past comments claiming an "ecological apartheid in which white polluters, white environmentalists are steering poison to minority communities."

Jones also fell into hot water for comments made about Republicans. He had apologised last Thursday after videotape surfaced of him using a crude epithet for the GOP.

In addition, the former adviser had signed the 9/11 "truth letter" suggesting the government purposely caused the attack on the World Trade Center but later said it certainly does not reflect his views.

"They are using lies and distortions to distract and divide," he said in the letter to the media.

Jones said that he's an environmentalist not because he's black but because he's "African."

Asked yesterday if Obama ordered that Jones be fired, White House Adviser, Mr. David Axelrod told NBC's "Meet The Press" programme that it was Jones's own decision.

"Jones said he was resigning to avoid being a distraction in the administration's effort to pass healthcare reform and climate change legislation," said Axelrod.

 

source.This Day (Nigeria)