In a pointed response to recent pronouncements from the United States, former Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has asserted that the insecurity plaguing Nigeria is a national crisis that does not discriminate based on religion or ethnicity.
His comments came directly after former US President Donald Trump designated Nigeria as a โcountry of particular concern,โ a label that has stirred unease within the countryโs political circles.
Mr Kwankwaso, who once served as defence minister, expressed his views with what he described as โincreasing concern.โ He emphasised that Nigeria remains a sovereign nation grappling with complex internal threats from a variety of outlaw groups. The core of his argument is that these security challenges are blind to the sectarian divisions often highlighted in international discourse.
โThe insecurity we face does not distinguish based on religious, ethnic, or political beliefs,โ Mr Kwankwaso stated.
His remark is widely seen as a direct rebuttal to a perceived oversimplification of Nigeriaโs security landscape, which includes the Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast, rampant banditry in the northwest, separatist agitations in the southeast, and farmer-herder conflicts in the central belt.
Furthermore, the source of the criticism adds a layer of political sensitivity. President Donald Trump remains a deeply polarising figure globally, and his pronouncements on international affairs often generate strong reactions. For a nation proud of its sovereign status, being singled out in such a manner by an American president is viewed by many as an unwelcome intervention that could distort the narrative and complicate domestic efforts.
Rather than what he implied were unhelpful external pronouncements, Mr Kwankwaso proposed a path of constructive partnership. He called on the United States to assist Nigerian authorities with โbetter cutting-edge technologyโ to tackle the problems on the ground. This includes advanced surveillance equipment, intelligence-gathering tools, and military hardware that could provide a critical edge against highly mobile and often tech-savvy non-state actors. His appeal reframes the relationship from one of criticism to one of potential collaboration, where the US leverages its technological superiority to support a strategic ally.
On the diplomatic front, Mr Kwankwaso urged the Nigerian government to take proactive measures. He recommended the appointment of special envoys from the countryโs pool of distinguished diplomats to engage directly with the American government. This, he believes, would allow for a more nuanced and accurate representation of Nigeriaโs realities, ensuring that policy in Washington is informed by facts on the ground rather than broad-brush assessments.
He also stressed the necessity of appointing a permanent ambassador to the United States, a post that has been vacant in the past, to consistently and effectively represent Nigeriaโs interests on the international stage.
Addressing his fellow citizens, Mr Kwankwaso framed the moment as a critical juncture for national solidarity. โThis is an important moment where we should emphasise unity of belonging over division”, he said.
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