Nigeria and indeed, President Bola Tinubu and his American counterpart, Donald Trump today are on the radar of international politics as a fall out from their actions on the unfolding and increasing security challenge that is fast gaining prominence and fast dislodging peace, order as well as sanity, becoming more frightening with its undisguised potency to even overthrow civil governance; including peaceful survival of humanity especially in the African share of the globe which Nigeria indubitably represents by the combined factor of possessing the commanding indices of population, developed human capacity and landmass in the continent.

Prior to the emergence of Tinubu on the country’s leadership landscape, insecurity especially in its present colour and structure which owed is origin to the Administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, curiously and questionably survived Obasanjo and all his successors, had been treated as ringworm and purely as a domestic affair with no genuine determination to apply collaborative international support, even when Nigerians including non-Nigerians in thousands of thousands have continued to fall victims.

Apart from the increasing human tolls, the economy on which the country and its huge population and some other countries depend for survival, have continued to suffer and bleed to extermination by the sole evil of insecurity, thereby undermining Nigeria’s expected contributions to the global economy. Just as the rest of the world community has been groaning under the weight of the global security effects of the ongoing Russo-Ukraine war which has continued to imperil human survival and good living in other parts of the world.

The logical implication of the above is that war and its attributes is usually a local product which could even arise from the smallest constituent in a nation, however its impacts and consequential effects are of global epidemic in nature and this is why leaders and stakeholders in the world, including the United Nations system often seek early and quick containment of any outbreak in any part of the world.

The most salient provision and kernel of the Nigerian Constitution is the sub-provision of Chapter 2 which unequivocally declares that the security and welfare of Nigerian citizens is the primary purpose of government. It does not say the purpose of government shall be the territorial sovereignty of Nigeria. If at all the Constitution is to be interpreted from the point of view of sovereignty, it would additionally be affirming the sovereignty of the Nigerian people who must come first when taking decisions on security, that is security sovereignty of the people, thereby amplifying the kernel of Chapter 2. As also germane Welfare of the people is, in the logical hierarchy of human needs, security comes before welfare.

The people must first be (kept) alive before welfare, though some may argue that security is part of welfare. Past Nigerian leaders have foolishly stuck to the empty principle of asserting sovereignty which rather than add to lives, was depleting lives with rapidity, a baren sovereignty of a sort until when Tinubu took the courage to shame this shame and deceit, put them aside in the overall security sovereignty of the people to seek and accept foreign partnership and international collaboration aimed at putting an to this daily mass killing of Nigerian which on its own has brought us more international shame than the alleged poor international image conceeding to foreign help may have brought.

When Nigeria as regional leader under Tinubu recently “breached” sovereignty of Benin Republic when it intervened in the supposed internal affairs of Benin even without “waiting” for invitation from the government of Benin, what Tinubu had done was to protect the security sovereignty of the people of Benin Republic. The urgency and necessity of the intervention has automatically relegated Benin’s territorial sovereignty to the background.

With all due respect, I strongly disagree with the notion that American military intervention in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism is a violation of our territorial integrity. In our increasingly interconnected world, collective action against global threats is a necessity. The real violation of our sovereignty was former and late President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB)’s alleged recruitment of Fulani jihadists, wading into a jihad war. American intervention is a necessary step to reclaim our nation to enable it perform its constitutional duties to all Nigerians without discrimination and also effectively resume its obligatory roles to the internaional community without further hindrance. The duties and roles it has stopped to effectively discharge to both its citizens and citizens of the world due to the unnecessary war and insecurity foisted on her.

We need decisive actions, not hollow debates about territorial integrity. Let’s welcome this partnership and intensify efforts to liberate Nigeria from terrorist grip!We unequivocally welcome the American intervention in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism.

In today’s interconnected world, collective action against global threats is not just a necessity, but a moral imperative. In today’s global village system, talks are about human sanctity, men and women with good conscience are increasingly cueing behind respect for human dignity, equality of mankind as well as equally opportunities to life and equal opportunities to accessing quality job as well as means of sustenance. The wall of sovereignty has continued to collapse across the world giving growth to the growing concept of global village and global community where the rights of people are considered inalienable and irrepressible.

The signpost for the continued collapse of sovereignty no doubt dated back to the end of the Second World War which resulted in the emergence international and UN agencies that not only seek to promote and defend the rights of the ordinary people, but put institutions in place to enforce such rights as try violators by leaders and even non-state actors like those sponsoring, financing and arming terrorists in Nigeria and in other parts of the world.

The collapse of Eastern bloc, the collapse of the German Wall, the collapse of the Soviet Union sovereignty and many others are pointers to the continued death of sovereignty concept. By the way what concept of sovereignty a leader wants to preach to the over 48 Nigerians killed few days ago in Niger State and several thousand others killed by terrorist in the last 10 years and several thousand others that are missing due to kidnapping or several millions that have been displaced. Where is the sovereignty in the current world where more than half of a country’s population has emigrated to other countries where they are received and allowed almost all the privileges of their host countries. Our sovereignty is not and must not be allowed to be used as shield by terrorists to penetrate mass killings, kidnapping and population displacement which again will shield them against heavy repercussions and justice.

America’s intervention is justified on several grounds; including the following:
Terrorist groups in Nigeria pose a threat to global peace, with their links to international terror networks. The atrocities committed by Boko Haram and other groups warrant international intervention to protect civilians.

The Nigerian government has sought international assistance, implying consent for intervention. The international community has a duty to intervene when a state fails to protect its citizens.

The 1949 Geneva Convention and Nigeria’s Supreme Court ruling in Dokubo-Asari V. Federal Republic Of Nigeria (2007) underscore the primacy of national security over other considerations.

We need decisive action, not hollow debates about territorial integrity. Bombard the terrorists until Nigeria is liberated!

• Banji Alabi Esq, Alternative Chairman Eti Osa branch, Nigeria Bar Association is also the National President, Ondo State Eminent Persons Group.