From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin
A Professor of Political Science and International Relations, Prof Hassan Salihu, has cautioned the federal government in employing foreign intervention to combat the rising insurgency in the northern part of the country.
The university don, who stated this while delivering a paper at a round-table on peace and security, held in honour of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara state, by the state council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), in Ilorin, said his reservation for such intervention by foreign countries was due to a possible backlash aftermath of the counter-terrorism campaign.
He said although the involvement of foreign option becomes necessary in view of the dreaded attacks emanating from the insurgents, but the consequence of such lies in the unity of the country if the battle is eventually won.
Besides, the don accused a fraction of leaders for being behind the militancy in the country.
The don, who alluded to a similar aid by American government during Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, which led to a number of casualty in the army, warned against irrational decision on the part of government.
He said the intervention might not also go down well with top hierarchy of the security formation.
“We are not against the foreign assistance but the problem is that the nation’s unity may have a problem. There is likelihood of resentment from the military because of a number of casualties among them.
“You would recall that during Obasanjo’s administration, Victor Malu was a casualty when American government came up with their assistance. The question we need to ask is: “Can foreign intervention guarantee instability in Nigeria?”.
Salihu also carpeted the government on what he described as its tactless approach in arresting the problem of insecurity, adding that the country was currently facing national crisis.
He added that the government has not been able to do a credible threat analysis and challenged the government to take bold steps by coming up with initiative that will solve the problem.
In his remark, the chairman of the occasion, Professor Shehu Jimoh, described Nigeria as a plan-less nation drifting towards the future.
