Senator Dickson has claimed that Buhari’s religious bias in security appointments worsened U.S. perception of Nigeria’s insecurity.
NaijaOnPoint Nigeria reports that the lawmaker representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District, Senator Seriake Dickson, has said that former President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to appoint predominantly Muslim heads of security agencies during his eight-year administration worsened how the United States perceived Nigeria’s security challenges.
Dickson made the statement while reacting to U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent remarks accusing Nigeria of allowing a “Christian genocide” and threatening possible military action if the Federal Government fails to protect Christians from extremist attacks.
In a statement released on Wednesday night, the former Bayelsa State governor said that while Nigeria must collaborate with international partners to eradicate terrorism, the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity must always be respected.
He stated:
“Late President Buhari’s policy of appointing mostly Muslims to head all the security services during his eight years in office further worsened these perceptions.
“As Nigerians, we must be honest with ourselves that the killings have gone on for too long, and government and security forces have been overwhelmed. We need help! No nation can confront terrorism in isolation. We must therefore work with our allies and partners to defeat this menace once and for all.”
Senator Dickson urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to engage diplomatically with the United States and other allies to strengthen Nigeria’s counterterrorism strategy.
“It is on the strength of the foregoing that I strongly recommend that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should collaborate with President Donald Trump, the U.S. Government, and other allies and friends of Nigeria to flush out these marauding terrorists,” he said.
He also called on the Tinubu administration to improve relations with Nigeria’s neighbouring countries, noting that regional cooperation is vital to successfully combating terrorism and restoring peace.