America is benefitting from bloodshed in Nigeria

Sir: In April 2014 when Boko Haram abducted about 300 Chibok school girls, some Nigerians thought it was time to negotiate for peace of Nigeria with Boko Haram, beyond negotiating to free the girls. But America and her allies, including the UK, were vehement in advising that Boko Haram should not be allowed to benefit from the crime of abduction.

The foreign predators said they would help to free the girls and annihilate Boko Haram. I said if the Western nations had the magic wand to annihilate Boko Haram, why didn’t they help Nigeria since 2011 when Boko Haram has been bombing and attacking Nigeria Army and Police? But the then President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, like today’s President, General Muhammadu Buhari (GMB) preferred war to peace. The Boko Haram that America and her allies said should not benefit from the crime of abduction then married some of the girls and probably sold out some.

Nigeria’s rulers lacked the intelligence and knowledge to see that America and her allies didn’t want to lose market for their war planes, sophisticated weapons, and other war equipment. They make fortunes from such wares. GMB has no qualms giving $496 million to America for war planes, even without seeking approval from Nigeria’s legislators. Is Nigeria a republic? No, it belongs to the oligarchy of political, military, Christian and Muslim elite. In a particular way, it belongs to GMB who is wearing several caps as a jihadist warrior, patron of Fulani herdsmen terrorists, and current leader of political jobbers, such as Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Adams Oshiomhole, Festus Keyamo, and others like that. America and her allies have enjoyed sale of sophisticated weapons to Nigeria since 2011 till date, promoting carnage, genocide, and economic destruction of Nigeria.

There is no better solution than to impeach GMB; seek peace with Boko Haram, and outlaw open grazing of animals. I said in 2015 that by deciding to defeat rather than seek peace with Boko Haram, GMB failed before his inauguration as Nigeria’s President. I said if GMB rules Nigeria for 100 years, she will never know peace, because he is basically not a man of peace and he has accomplices in Tukur Buratai and Idris Kpotum. Bukola Saraki, a dictator, will never allow Nigeria’s legislators to impeach GMB.

As a panacea, more people and political parties should join the National Intervention Movement of the former President, General Olusegun Obasanjo, to deliberate and agree on measures that will stabilise Nigeria, as GMB and his allies have no other vision than war. As America is selling war planes to GMB, the UK is happy that GMB makes London his second home where he goes for rest and medical check-up with untold amount of hard currencies. Ethnic leaders should repent. Some Yoruba leaders said last year, “when Nigeria is not in a war situation.” Oh my God! Is Nigeria then in time of peace?
• Prof. Oyeniran Abioje wrote from University of Ilorin.