…US should be partners in healing wounds not hammer looking for nail —Afenifere
IBRAHIM QUADRI with agency reports
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris has revealed that diplomatic channels are proving effective towards rapprochement in the tense relationship between the government of the United States and Nigeria.
Idris, stated this in an interview with the UK-based Sky News programme, “The World With Yalda Hakim”.
This was contained in a statement issued by Idris’s Special Assistant on Media, Malam Rabiu Ibrahim on Tuesday in Abuja.
Idris said channels of communication have been opened with talks going on for better understanding of the situation.
“We believe that most of the information is a result of a lack of a proper understanding of the diversity and complexity of the problem we have at hand,” Idris said.
The Minister also spoke of a direct connection between a proscribed separatist group and U.S. lobby groups aimed at misinforming U.S. authorities.
“Let me also put it out there that we are seeing a direct connection between U.S. lobbyists and the proscribed terrorist organisation in Nigeria.
“And we have seen how they have set up this lobby in the U.S. contacting high-up people in the U.S. to help them to lobby,” he said.
The Minister affirmed that the U.S. government has always supported Nigeria in the fight against terror, adding that, this time around, Nigeria is still in need of collaboration to stamp out terrorism.
“What we are saying is that, yes, indeed, the situation is there, we have conflict in Nigeria, we have a security situation in Nigeria, but in the past the U.S. government has helped Nigerian authorities to deal with this situation.
“So, we are calling on them to partner with us once again, to help push this, and then we have peace once and for all in our country.”
According to him, Nigeria is surprised by some of the numbers coming from the U.S. and its stance on the issue.
He called on the international community to understand the peculiarities of the Nigerian situation.
“We want to tell the world that this is not the case, and to appeal to them, that we share the concern of people from our country, and that of the international community, including the U.S., about some of these killings going on.
“But what we want at this point is an understanding of the diversity and the complexity of the situation.
“Some of the assumptions are based on data that largely cannot stand any scientific scrutiny,” Idris said.
He also maintained that the Nigerian constitution enshrines religious freedom, adding that the country remains a multi-faith nation, despite the conflict, which he said was not based on religious persecution.
Incidentally, The pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, has cautioned the United States President, Donald Trump on the plan to invade Nigeria in rooting out terrorists, saying US should be a partner in healing, not a hammer looking for a nail.
The group noted that adopting the conventional ‘war approach’ is not the way to solve the terrorism challenge currently going on in the country.
The organization, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, explained that in conventional war, the ‘enemy’ could be identified in terms of location and other signifiers but terrorists in Nigeria, though not invincible, are not easily identifiable because they mingle with the people who would later become victims.
“As such, the approach to defeating terrorists in Nigeria requires tact, hard-track intelligence, diligence, commitment and sincerity on the part of those deployed to fight them.”
Ajayi stated that Afenifere is issuing this second statement on the same subject within a short interval due to the speed with which American President, Donald Trump is pursuing his goal of attacking Nigeria ostensibly to come and rescue Christians who he alleged are facing extermination.
He quoted the New York Times, of Wednesday, November 5, which reported that the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) has drawn up plans to attack Nigeria.
The plans were categorized as ‘heavy, (Option A) ‘medium’ (Option B) and ‘light’ (Option C).
Under the heavy option, fighter jets or long-range bombers will target militant strongholds in northern Nigeria.
Under the ‘medium’ option, MQ-9 Reaper and MQ-1 Predator drones, supported by U.S. intelligence will ‘conduct targeted strikes against insurgent camps, convoys, and vehicles’ in Northern Nigeria.
Under the ‘light’ option, US military will be sharing intelligence, provide logistics support and carry out joint operations with Nigerian armed forces against militant groups accused of mass killings, abductions and attacks on churches.
The plans were made on the directive of President Trump who had not only declared Nigeria as a ‘Country of Particular Concern (CPC), but vowed to rescue Christians in Nigeria who he alleged are being persecuted because of their faith.
According to Afenifere spokesman, there is an aspect of the New York Times’ report that is alarming.
The paper had reported that because of the feeling that limited air operations alone are unlikely to resolve Nigeria’s prolonged insurgency, there is the possibility of resorting to ‘a full-scale campaign – similar to those in Iraq or Afghanistan’.
“Going by the aftermath of US’ interventions in those countries (Iraq and Afghanistan), only the enemies of Nigeria would wish for a similar thing to happen to her (Nigeria).
Rather than toeing that path, Afenifere prefers intelligence/information sharing, training in modern surveillance and where necessary, limited airstrikes or drones (as contained in Plan C, ‘light’ operation) to deal with this multifaceted challenge.
“We believe that toeing this path with sincerity of purpose will achieve the desired objective of routing out terrorists and insurgents.
We strongly believe that there is no need whatsoever to launch “full scale campaigns similar to those in Iraq or Afghanistan”, the statement emphasized.
It went further to state that what happened to countries where America has carried out ‘full scale campaigns’ is undesirable. Countries like Vietnam, Sudan, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya to mention just some.
Ajayi added that rather than the outright military path, better interests would be served by following the established principle of sovereignty based on strategic mutual cooperation, diplomatic engagement, genuine commitment to protecting citizens who are law-abiding regardless of the faith they profess as well as a veritable determination not only to hold terrorists and their sponsors accountable but to defeat them completely.
“The exhortation of US Congressman, Jonathan L. Jackson is pertinent here.
After stating that violence against any person of faith is unacceptable. The suffering of the Nigerian people – Christian and Muslim alike – deserves compassion.
The answer to the Nigeria terrorism situation is not American bombs or boots.
The U.S. has to work with the Nigerian government to eliminate Boko Haram and any terrorism or criminal groups”.
“You don’t stabilize Africa with missiles – you stabilize it with schools, clean water, and opportunity” adding that the approach should be diplomacy-first; one that prioritizes peacebuilding, humanitarian aid and regional partnerships rather than unilateral US intervention.
“The path to Nigeria must come through dialogue, development, and dignity – not domination. American should be a partner in healing, not a hammer looking for a nail.”
Therefore, Afenifere called on those who are fascinated by US planned strike to think twice as bombs hardly discriminate between the guilty and the innocents, especially when they are in the same spot.
“What should be encouraged are intelligence gathering that would make it easier to identify desired targets and go for them directly with minimal collateral damages.
“It is undebatable that Christians and adherents of other faiths need to be protected in Nigeria.
So are people who are being terrorized by those who want to take over their ancestral lands. Thus, the approach should be a total war on terrorists who prioritize resources over faith.
In the same vein elders in various communities where the menace is rampart should swing more into action.”
Meanwhile, The Governor of Lagos State and Chairman of the South-West Governors Forum, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has advocated for stronger unity, saying Nigerians stand together as citizens and compatriots in a strong conviction for common destiny.
The United States President, Donald Trump had threatened to launch a military onslaught in Nigeria against terrorists
But Sanwo-Olu noted that distraction or division would not be allowed in the country, urging citizens to be united to surmount insecurity, hunger and other challenges in the country.
He said Nigerians must adopt a homegrown, local and bottom-up approach in the actualisation of state policing, local government autonomy, presidential legacy infrastructure projects connecting cities and opening up of rural areas, and other demanding issues for the development of the country.
Governor Sanwo-Olu spoke on Tuesday at the one-day lecture marking the 65th Independence Anniversary of Nigeria, organised by the Arewa Think Tank, themed “65th Year of Nigeria Independence:
The Journey So Far with the Renewed Hope Agenda in View” at Arewa House Auditorium, Kaduna State.
The event, chaired by former President of the Senate and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Pius Anyim Pius, was attended by top officials of Kaduna State Government, members of the Federal Executive Council, former and current public office holders, religious and traditional leaders and captains of industries, among others.
Sanwo-Olu, who was the Guest Speaker, challenged current public office holders to build on the legacies of the founding fathers like the late Sir Ahmadu Bello, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and other leaders, patriots and founding fathers of Nigeria, by studying their lives, their examples and learning from their successes and their shortcomings.
He said: “No one is perfect, and politics and public service are not about perfection. Instead, they are about constantly improving, fine-tuning, reforming—planting trees we might not be around to enjoy, building to leave behind a better country and a better planet than the one we inherited.
While echoing his call for stronger unity as a nation, Governor Sanwo-Olu said: “I will close with a strong message of hope and unity for these times that we are in, against the backdrop of the challenges that we are confronting as a nation, including very controversial claims from the United States government about religious persecution and intolerance.
“We will continue to affirm that Nigeria is a proudly multiethnic, multi-religious and multicultural country, where the things that bind us together are far weightier than whatever seeks to separate or divide us.
“We stand together as citizens and compatriots, firm in our conviction about our common destiny.
God has put us together for a purpose, and we shall achieve that purpose without distraction or division.
“We shall defeat every challenge: poverty, hunger, and, as the President himself has assured us, terrorism. As His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reminded us earlier this week,
‘The task ahead is immense, but it is our resolve to move forward with unity and purpose, guided by the Renewed Hope Agenda to build a prosperous, inclusive and resilient Nigeria.”
Speaking about President Tinubu’s administration, Governor Sanwo-Olu said the President, in his politics and vision, taps heavily into the audacious foresight that defined Sir Ahmadu Bello’s generation, noting that “The President’s Renewed Hope Agenda is a clear testament to this foresight—and he has faithfully implemented its pledges and commitments since he assumed office on May 29, 2023.”
He said the Renewed Hope Agenda, anchored on progressive thinking and solutions, is in full alignment with the founding ideals and long-term direction of the All Progressives Congress (APC), adding that the comprehensive agenda focuses on economic growth and diversification, security in all its ramifications (national security, energy security, food security), national infrastructure, human capital development, and governance reform.
“At the state level, APC governors are encouraged to draw from and align with these pillars in our various governing agendas.
In Lagos State, for example, our THEMES+ agenda is fully aligned, emphasising infrastructure, human capital development, diversification through entertainment and tourism, security, governance reform, and social inclusion.
This unity of purpose, across tiers of government, is an essential foundation for fast-tracking development in Nigeria,” he said.
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