Is this all China and others can do for Nigeria at this time?

Nigeria faces perhaps the greatest existential threat in its 65 years of existence and it is interesting to see how some of its ‘’friends’’, partners and even African brothers are reacting.

A superpower with massive destructive capability is assembling a force of arms to obliterate Nigeria from the face of the earth ostensibly to stop ‘’genocide’’ against Christians in Nigeria.

The United Kingdom and the Commonwealth of Nations of which Nigeria is a strong member, have largely kept mum electing not to offer a word of support nor even a cursory condemnation of this threat directed against Nigeria. The European Union offered some words in that time honoured language of diplomatese which meant nothing to the issue at stake. Indeed, the EU countries many of whom are vassals of the United States of America was careful not to offend their benefactor and instead the EU chose to be opportunistic in a statement in which it said ‘’we respect Nigeria’s sovereignty and constitutional commitment to religious neutrality’’. Notice that this statement did not expressly condemn America’s violation of International Law by its threat to interfere in the internal affairs of an independent country, and subsequently threatening to physically invade and or bomb Nigerian territories.

Germany in particular with a healthy trade and economic ties with Nigeria for years has been pathetically mealy mouthed. The plans to invade Nigeria is presently being coordinated at the southern German city of Stuttgart where the headquarters of AFRICOM the American rapid intervention force for Africa is based. There has been no word from Germany which has been strident in its condemnation of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and even supporting the latter with military assistance in the on-going war with Russia.

And what about France? The country most favoured by President Bola Tinubu and whose paths in Africa have often crossed with the Americans has maintained an uncharacteristic Gallic silence where a forceful statement urging restraint directed at the Americans would have made more meaning.

As for the AU and ECOWAS, the less said the better. Many of the African countries will be gleefully happy that Nigeria will now be given its comeuppance by America. They will not consider that a humanitarian crisis resulting from American intervention in Nigeria will almost certainly affect the entire continent negatively.

What about the Saudis, the Vatican and others who exert significant leverage in Nigeria’s religious divide of Islam and Christianity?

The Saudis and the Gulf states are firmly in the American strategic orbit and may not be expected to vigorously condemn America’s intentions in Nigeria. Although Nigeria has a significant Muslim population and sends hundreds of thousands of Muslims for the lesser and full pilgrimage annually, the Saudis will not allow religious preferences to weigh above Saudi-American interests which is massive.

We all know the current Pope is an American and although the Vatican has acknowledged that the issue of killings in Nigeria is not limited to Christians alone, the Vatican has studiously avoided direct censure of the Americans in their stance in using the alleged ‘’Christian genocide’’ to invade Nigeria. The Vatican finds itself in a catch 22 situation; rightfully condemning the potential for humanitarian catastrophe that the American intervention will cause to both Christian and Muslims in Nigeria and defending the position of many Christians in Nigeria that they are indeed facing genocide, as the defender of Christian values and causes.

As for the Russians even though they have indicated that they are studying the situation in Nigeria keenly, they cannot be faulted if they seem to appear cautious. The Russians have not forgotten how after supporting Nigeria during the civil war, we promptly abandoned them and landed in the arms of the same western countries that were responsible for the war. The Russians have not forgotten that the Ajaokuta Steel Project which was meant as a symbol of RUSSIA-Nigeria cooperation was left to atrophy by subsequent Nigerian governments.

But the country whose response to the threats directed at Nigeria is perhaps the most significant is China. Yes, China issued a statement asking America not to interfere in Nigeria’s internal affairs. China also stated that it shared a strong ‘’strategic partnership’’ with Nigeria and by implication, it will not allow America to inflict harm on the country. Strong words. But considering that of all the countries of the world, China is the one country whose vigorous unequivocal stand will restrain American intentions in Nigeria. And also considering that the real reason why America is contemplating invading Nigeria is to upstage the Chinese in the country, China should have complemented its statement with a symbolic physical action that will demonstrate to the Americans that China is serious about deterring America in Nigeria.

The Chinese know very well that the Americans are not coming to Nigeria to defend Christians. They are coming to Nigeria to get a toe hold on the economic stakes in Nigeria and to establish a military base here that will enable them kick whatever the Chinese are doing with Nigeria. If Nigeria is going to be punished because it is cozying up to China, then the least we expect is for the Chinese to be more vigourous than mere diplomatic words.

Danbazau’s Lamentation on the state of our Military       

Do you know that when annual budgets are prepared and we hear that Defence takes a huge chunk, only 40% eventually gets to the Ministry to execute the budget? And when the 40% eventually reaches the Defence Ministry, it is tied to projects that have not been properly assessed for implementation?

Do we know that the issue of interference in strategic military plans and policies are still rife in our military operations very often stymying our military objectives? Example the Nigeria Airforce was once asked to take over aerial surveillance and patrol of our borders to deter incursions into Nigeria. But no sooner had the Airforce prepared itself for this task did ‘’orders from above’’ came to stop it leaving the Airforce with eggs and tomatoes on their faces?

This was the revelation made by former Chief of Army Staff Lt. General Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd) and Air Vice Marshal Gbolahan Adekunle (rtd) former Chief of Policy and Plans of the Nigerian Air Force at the 7^th Annual Lecture of the Just Friends Club of Nigeria in Abuja last week.

The two gentlemen who were once commanders in our military services cannot be faulted in their observations and we should all be concerned especially with the looming threat of an invasion of Nigeria by the United States of America.

Coming from former officers and commanders of such standing and experience may sound inappropriate to some, but under the circumstances that we currently face as a country, such candour is necessary in the overarching interest of defending the country.