A former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Martin Agwai (rtd) has said that US President Donald Trump’s threat over alleged Christian genocide in Nigeria is a wake-up call. He recently revealed that Nigerian leaders should boost their efforts in the fight against insecurity in country.
Speaking during the Presidential Youth Mentorship Retreat organised by the Youth Development Centre, an arm of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Agwai stated that our leaders should not wait for external forces to dictate Nigeria’s fate.
According to him, America dominating Nigeria will not make the country better, except we are willing to effect the change ourselves.
He stated that sometimes conflict can serve as a reminder of deeper issues that have to be addressed, so Trump’s warning could be a blessing in disguise.
“I do not see it (Trump’s military action) happening immediately. In everything, there are intentions, and in every intention, sometimes your reaction also matters.
For every action, there is almost an equal and opposite reaction, so how we react, how we understand and how we deal with it is the most important thing.
I am happy, people are saying this is the wake-up call.. conflict sometimes is a wake-up call for us, so this could be a wake-up call for us, even if America come and dominates Nigeria, would it change what Nigerians are? If Nigerians are not willing to change themselves, they cannot.
You can’t legislate peace, you can’t force peace on people, but understanding, justice, equity, discussing with each other, removing the fear that exists and the negative narrative that is all over the place.
We must sit down and dialogue and discuss with each other, we will find out that most of our problems will be solved,” he said.
Gen. Agwai further noted that every country across the globe faces its own challenges, and Nigeria is no exception.
He concluded by saying that Trump’s threat of violence must be avoided because the bombs will not target a particular Nigerian tribe and spare the others.
“Every country in this world has their own challenges and problems, so Nigeria is not an island and Nigeria is not an exception, so it is time for us now to close ranks, it is time for us now to look at each other as brothers.
If the bomb begins to land today, it will not separate Yoruba, Muslim, Christian, Hausa, Fulani, minority, the bomb will not. So, we have to find a way of accommodating each other, and honestly, this beautiful country will continue to be what it is and the envy of everybody,” he added.
