Terrorists List: Whither Nigeria-US Relations?

Late last year, a 23 – year old Nigerian, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, attempted bombing of an American airliner with 289 people on board carrying 70 countries nationals.

It was very clear to every discerning mind that this action of a young Nigerian may provoke a set back for the long standing diplomatic relationship between United States and Nigeria, with a population of over 150 million people.

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab’s behaviour has positioned the country on the terrorist list by the United States Intelligence Services and White House.

Nigeria’s image is presently at its lowest ebb. The country’s image in China is also not helping matters in spite of government’s rebranding effort.

According to the country’s Ambassador to China, Alhaji Aminu Wali, Nigerians accounted for about 90 per cent of the crimes purportedly committed by Africans in that country.

The situation is quite unfortunate and portrayed the country’s  image in bad light with many Nigerians today, believed to be  languishing in Chinese prisons on offences ranging from drug-related crime, illegal immigration and human trafficking, among others.

Other nations classified as terrorist nations are Cuba and Islamic countries of Iran, Sudan, Syria, Afghanistan, Algeria, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and Yemen. These nations are considered by United States as  sponsors of terrorism.

But according to Dickson Sunday of the University of Uyo, the inclusion of Nigeria among countries of sponsors of terrorism is totally unacceptable as Nigeria is a secular state with limited fundamentalist tendency.

He argues that although, terrorism appears to have increased remarkably in the past few years with the spread of Al-quada network and anti-America’s foreign policy especially in Middle East.

The  Research Fellow in International Relations and Foreign Policy further stressed that terrorism is a strategic form of force used by state and non-state players in international politics to achieve set objective. Its manifestation may be in the form of murder, assassination sabotage, subversion and violence. But Nigeria state is not noted for these covert terrorism operations.

 Terrorism connotes a philosophy of force, threat, illegal acts of violence carried out against defenseless targets in order to achieve political goals perceived as unaddressable and discriminatory.

Mr Sunday concurred with this argument as he said that, “American government should not completely criminalise all Nigerians, rather America’s foreign policy should seek meaningful ways of political interaction and exchange of intelligence information to protect the strategic importance of Nigeria to the vital interests of America.”

As American government he noted, critically evaluate their foreign policy towards Nigeria in achieving the country’s set objectives in consonance with their perceived national interests, Nigeria’s government should equally have the right to review its foreign policy in order to protect her citizens.”

 However, according to Professor Bassey Ate, expert on Nigeria-United States relations, “it is essentially in the best interest of both countries to maintain their bilateral  partnership despite the attempted bombing of an American airliner by  Abdulmutallab.” He stressed that United States has the largest foreign investment  in Nigeria with multinational oil companies like Chevron, Mobil and Texaco.

The former Director of Research at the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs advised that it is in Nigeria’s interest to intensify co-operation with the United States despite the current disagreement over inclusion of the country in the terrorist list.

The Minister of Information, Prof. Dora Akunyili, in a quick reaction while speaking to the press  said, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab’s behaviour is not reflective of Nigeria and should therefore not be used as a yardstick to judge all Nigerians.

According to her, it is unfair for American government to discriminate against over 150 million people because of the behaviour of one person by listing the country among state sponsored terrorist nation.

The Minister stressed that Farouk was not influenced in Nigeria, he was not recruited or trained in Nigeria, and he was not supported whatsoever in Nigeria.

Rather, it was believed that Farouk became radicalised in Britain having had contact with radical cleric Awal-al-Awdaki in Yemen.

As the controversy rages on, many have continued to condemn such state sponsored terrorism appellation on Nigeria by the United States officials. Even, the National Assembly through the Chairman on Information/Media Committee, Senator Ayogu Eze, said the Senate has rejected such classification of Nigeria as a terrorist nation. According to him, Nigerians are not fundamentalists but very respectful people, adding that, Nigeria and United States must cooperate to promote global and regional security.

Prof. Jibril Aminu also added his voice to the fact that Nigeria should not be put on the list of terrorist nations. He added that Nigeria has no record of organised aggression against the United States government to brand its citizens terrorists.

Senator Aminu added that although, radical Islamic fundamentalists in the Middle East have gained the support  because of United States strong support for Israeli against the Palestinians.

The former Minister advised the United States to review its foreign policy with a view to endearing itself to other nations considered more fundamentalists.

He stressed that, “formerly the United States was the safest country in the world and a shinning example for all countries of the world probably due to its liberal environment. But today,   Aminu noted, things have changed and what the United States sees as terrorism is indeed freedom and liberation struggles for other people and nations.”

He advised United States to review its foreign policies and probably stop supporting only one side to the conflict in the Middle East.

Kabee Kabari, a lecturer with the University of Education, Port Harcourt, urged the Federal Government to severe diplomatic relationship with the United States. He said, “it is unfair and disturbing to criminalise Nigerians with one isolated case of terrorism”.

He explained that  Americans have been  arrested for grievous offences around the world and only such individuals have been held accountable and not the entire citizens of America. He buttressed the fact that recently in China, a Briton was executed on drug related offence. Yet, the entire people of Britain were not criminalised of the drug offence.

Ordinarily, he said the action of a single individual should not subject millions of Nigerians to embarrassment and humiliation. 

Like an ill wind that blows no one any good, the action of the United States has taken its toll on on some Nigerians who have to narrate their  sad experience on arrival from Spain. Mr Eugene Philip speaking to The Tide said his toothbrush, pair of shoes, and belt were taken away from him at that country’s airport.

America should see Nigeria as a strategic partner in African affairs  in terms of political stability, democratic growth, protection of human rights, economic cooperation, among others. Aside the long standing relationship between Nigeria and United States in the advancement of regional economic integration, regional and global security should be considered paramount to the interest of both countries at this crucial period.

Philip-Wuwu Okparaji