A former National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Lai Olurode, has warned Nigerians against seeking external military intervention over the country’s insecurity, saying the recent invasion of Venezuela by the United States of America offers critical lessons.
Olurode, in a statement obtained in Osogbo on Sunday, said those calling on Donald Trump to rescue Nigeria’s Christian population should have a rethink.
According to him, the invasion of Venezuela and the seizure of its President, Nicolas Maduro, show clearly that America’s primary motivation is the control of global energy resources.
He said claims of humanitarian intervention or concern over religious persecution were mere smokescreens.
“With the invasion of Venezuela and the seizure of its President together with its oil fields, the very notions of sovereignty, tolerance of diversity, and democracy have been reduced to a balderdash,” Olurode said.
“It is now evident that America is neither after weapons of mass destruction nor interested in the claim of Christian genocide in Nigeria. America’s primary concern and motivation is the control of global energy resources.”
The former INEC commissioner argued that unlike many of his predecessors, Trump does not respect the sovereignty of nations.
“Unlike most of its predecessors in office, President Trump does not respect the right of nations to be themselves. The notion of sovereignty of nations isn’t in his dictionary,” he said.
Olurode added that Trump’s actions reflect a return to global Darwinism, where the strong dominate the weak.
“He is desperate to return the world to the era of Darwinism, indeed, the survival of the fittest. The rights of small and weak nations are vulnerable to being trampled upon at will under Trump,” he stated.
He further warned that Trump’s foreign policy posture poses a threat beyond developing nations, insisting that even European countries may not be safe in the long run.
“With Trump’s aggressive behaviour, no country, even in Europe, will ultimately be safe,” Olurode said.
He called on civilised nations to work together to promote global peace, sovereignty, and the right of nations to govern themselves without external coercion.
Olurode cautioned Nigerians advocating American intervention to protect Christians or resolve Nigeria’s security challenges to reconsider their stance.
“Nigerians who are calling on America to come to Nigeria and rescue its Christian population and protect Nigeria from internal colonialism should have a rethink,” he said.
According to him, America’s interests are narrowly defined and do not prioritise the wellbeing of Nigerians or even the broader American population.
“America and its cronies in and outside Nigeria are narrowly for America’s Caucasian population and not the generality of even Americans,” he added.
Olurode concluded by reiterating that America’s invasion of Venezuela and the seizure of President Maduro remain unjustifiable.
“America’s attack on Venezuela and the seizure of President Nicolas Maduro is indefensible on any rational ground,” he said.