A former presidential aide and seasoned journalist, Laolu Akande, has shed light on his pivotal role in pressuring the United States government to designate Boko Haram as a foreign terrorist organisation in 2013.
Akande took to his X handle where he shared pivotal nuggets weekly on Mondays recalling how he and other members of the Christian Association of Nigerian-Americans (CANAN) defied odds and secured the US government’s designation of Boko Haram as a foreign terrorist organisation. Akande encouraged people to always stand firm in the face of opposition in order to ultimately achieve remarkable success as far as they are based on the right values.
He said, ‘‘In 2012, amidst the escalating threat posed by Boko Haram, Akande and a group of Nigerians residing in the United States were mobilized under the auspices of the Christian Association of Nigeria- America (CANAN) to rally support for the designation of Boko Haram as an FTO. This designation would not only bolster international efforts to combat the insurgency but also impose sanctions on individuals and entities associated with the terrorist organization. At first the US Secretary of State in 2012 when the advocacy began, Hillary Clinton bluntly refused to designate Boko Haram a FTO. Despite encountering rejection from the then US Secretary of State, we persisted in our advocacy and efforts, recognizing the urgent need to confront the growing menace of Boko Haram.’’
He wrote on his X/Twitter handle “#WeeklyPonder today “Never allow anyone to stop you in life, especially in your passion and values. I remember on relocating to US in 1998, folks said only menial jobs are available regardless of my profile (which included) eg. editor in 1997. I persisted and in months landed an editorial job @PhillyInquirer…”
The former presidential aide continued, “Never let anyone intimidate you. In 2012, some leaders in Nigeria needed Nigerians in the US to organise and get the US government designate Boko Haram FTO. So, we were given the job. Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State refused. We-CANAN- kept pressuring. By 2013 with Kerry as Secretary, Boko Haram became a FTO in the US!”
