A renowned political scientist and former Head of Political Science Department of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria Dr. Abubakar Siddique Mohammed has said that Nigeria is not a failed state, and that those advancing the position have neither the base nor understanding of what constitutes a failed state.
In an interview with LEADERSHIP, Mohammed argued, “Is the security situation in Nigeria worse than Pakistan, Somalia, Congo D.R, Cote d’Ivoire, Myanmar, Chad etc? I feel those who think Nigeria is a failed state do not understand the meaning of a ‘failed state’. There is a difference between false propaganda and reality. I understand the palpable frustration across the country. It will continue with inept leadership.”
Resisting military option as solution to the lingering Boko Haram insurgency, the University lecturer stressed, “Experience all over the world points to one fact, that military option alone does not solve the kind of crisis we are experiencing in Borno. Even in Nigeria, the federal government realised this very important point in its efforts to find lasting solutions to the violence in the Niger-Delta. The U.S, together with its NATO allies have thousands of troops in Afghanistan backed with sophisticated weapons, intensive intelligence gathering and several years of heavy bombardments, have not defeated the Taliban. They have now seen the need for dialogue. President Jonathan and his hard-line advisers could borrow a leaf from the Americans and NATO experience. The Nigerian military must not operate in any part of Nigeria like an occupation army; Maiduguri does deserve to be treated like ‘Faluja.”
He also bared his mind on the involvement of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) in resolving the Boko Haram crisis saying, “ACF is an organization which has responsible members with considerable experience in administration, business and national security. Also, ACF has extensive network across the country. I know some of its members from Borno and the neighbouring states – Yobe and Adamawa – who have deeper knowledge of the area and therefore could be of immense help in the search for solutions to the crisis.