By Princess Simon (Bureau Chief North Central, in Minna)
Human Rights Activist in Niger state, Alhaji Mohammed Awaisu Wana, has warned against foreign military action on Nigeria’s soil, adding that such interventions only speaks volume of a government that is weak in not only defending its citizens but its territorial integrity.
Awaisu Wana of the International Peace Ambassador (IPA) and member, Board of Trustees of the International Human Rights Commission–Relief Fund (IHRC-RF), said the United State's military strikes on Nigerian soil are ominous development that the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration must treat with utmost caution.
Awaisu Wana in an interview stated in clear terms that such actions does not only portend grave danger to Nigeria’s sovereignty but raise questions about the stability of Africa as a continent.
For the United States to come and fight for Nigeria suggests only one thing, that Nigeria as a nation had become vulnerable to external interference, a troubling sign of weakness in the country’s political leadership, he said.
"United States coming to fight for us simply exposed Nigeria’s susceptibility on the global stage and raised concerns about the ability of current leaders to adequately defend national interests of the entire citizenry".
Wana who criticized the President Tinubu led administration over alleged show of weakness in the face of what he described as an affront to Nigeria’s sovereignty, said the failure of successive governments to decisively tackle terrorism placed Nigeria in a precarious position within the comity of nations.
The Peace Ambassador recalled his earlier warnings to the President over what he termed lack of clear strategy in responding to President Donald Trump’s claims of a 'Christian genocide' in Nigeria, argued that dispatching the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, to engage American officials on the matter was a diplomatic misstep.
Awaisu Wana said it would have been more appropriate for the government to send prominent Christian leaders and clerics to address and counter the allegations, rather than Ribadu whom according to him could be perceived as controversial in the context of the claims that has further dented the country's image.
While urging Nigerians to place national survival above every other interests in whatever they're doing, Wana encouraged citizens to refrain from statements or actions that is capable of undermining peace and stability.
Wana who said he still believes that dialogue remained globally accepted means of resolving conflicts and so should be explored, nevertheless challenged leaders at all levels of government in Nigeria to intensify efforts to end terrorism, armed banditry and violence against innocent citizens.
While expressing his sympathy to millions of innocent citizens whose life were cut short and their sources of livelihood destroyed, Wana insists that for best results, issues of insecurity should be collective responsibilities of both national and subnational authorities. NNL.