|
November 30th, 2006
Letters
and Reactions
ABA Writes to ABC News' 20/20 Ahead of Program
Airing
Dear Producers of 20/20, ABC News Program,
My name is Prince Sobem Nwoko. I am writing to you both as an
individual and as President of the African Business Alliance, Inc. I
am contacting you as I have received several communications that your
company will air a program characterized as "419" and focused on Nigerians
as perpetrators of schemes to defraud others especially in USA and Europe.
I am writing not to discourage your efforts to expose fraudulent acts. My
concern is I have seen several of these programs and how they have painted
the country of Nigeria with a broad brush as a nation of people that defraud
others and who cannot be trusted to conduct business.
I am writing to caution your program to not fall into this dangerous
sensationalistic trap of characterizing an entire nation of people because
of what a few people may have perpetrated. Unfortunately we have witnessed
several programs including Dr. Phil Show, Fox news and others do so in the
past. We have written to them in an effort to combat this reckless trend.
Though I don’t know the contents of your program, I do hope it makes the
point that a fraud is a fraud regardless of where one commits the fraud or
their country of origin. Also, that these fraudulent acts occur everyday,
and in many places. They are perpetrated by persons from different walks of
life and many different countries and cultures, yes, including Nigerians,
Togolese, Lebanese, Brits, Germans, Turks, Italians, French, Americans,
Brazilians, you name it.
Incidentally, I just returned from a three week visit to Nigeria. During my
visit, I saw first hand the beauty of that country and countless people
doing good work and making an honest living in co-existence with everything
else -- as you would have in any other country of the world.
I get the impression programs like yours start out probing the valid
question – “How is it people fall for these internet frauds/scams?”
Unfortunately, in the end they draw these dangerous and reckless conclusions
and biased sensationalistic reporting. My hope is your program will be
balanced though I do not know its contents.
Having seen several of your programs, I suspect you will cover the topic
well.
Keep up the good work you are doing.
Thank you.
Warmly,
Prince Sobem Nwoko
President, African Business Alliance, Inc.
"Be a bright Light so that all who enter may see." Lk. 8:16
Tel: 404-422-2693
|
