APC Chieftain Advocates Internal Solutions To Curb Insecurity

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Farouk Aliyu, has called on Nigerians to develop home-grown innovations towards addressing the nation’s security challenges.

Aliyu gave the charge on Monday while speaking on Arise News television over United States Congressman Riley Moore’s recent visit to Nigeria.

Moore had visited Benue State in Nigeria, where he met with bishops, traditional rulers, and displaced persons, and observed Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps reportedly hosting up to 600,000 people.

The US lawmaker also held a meeting with the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, stating that he would submit a report to President Donald Trump with recommended pathways for cooperation between Nigeria and the United States.

Responding to questions about Nigeria’s classification as a Country of Particular Concern, Aliyu said, “Whether Nigeria is afraid or not of being classified, this is absolutely the prerogative of the United States of America. We are a country, a sovereign nation, a proud nation, a proud people, and so we cannot determine what or how America perceives us.”

Aliyu added that Nigeria is not alone in facing such classifications. “We are not the only country that America has classified in that regard. Look at Saudi Arabia; they have been on that list for only God knows how long. Their king was over the villa (White House), there, he was received,” he said.

While welcoming the US lawmaker’s visit, Aliyu insisted that any assessment must reflect the realities on the ground. “We who live in this country know that it is not true. There is no deliberate effort by either group in this country to kill one another. This mayhem affects all of us,” he said, acknowledging that both Christians and Muslims have been victims of violence.

He emphasised that Nigerians must take responsibility for addressing internal security issues. “We as a people need to look at ourselves in the eyes. The government needs to be proactive. The government needs to take it seriously. Not because the U.S. is making noise, but yes, our people are being killed. And we should not try to divide ourselves along ethnic or religious lines,” Aliyu said.

Aliyu also maintained that religiously motivated violence does not reflect the teachings of either faith. “No right-thinking Muslim would believe in killing. Absolutely, it is against Christianity. It is against Islam. So we should look at ourselves and who we are against in a better way,” he concluded.