President
Muhammadu Buhari said, weekend, that Nigeria would join the coalition of Muslim
countries against terrorism, led by Saudi Arabia, because of the activities of
Boko Haram.
The
President had, during his state visit to Saudi Arabia last week, said Nigeria
would not be a part of the coalition. “Even if we are not a part of it, we
support you,” the President had said at the meeting held in Saudi Arabia in
February.
But
speaking in an interview with Aljazeera at the weekend, the President said: “We
are part of it because we have got terrorists in Nigeria that everybody knows,
which claims that they are Islamic. He noted that Nigeria was currently faced
with attacks by Boko Haram, which had claimed over 20,000 lives since 2009.
The
Aljazeera interview is believed to have been held in Qatar, where President
Buhari visited after his trip to Saudi Arabia. President Buhari said in the
interview: “If there is an Islamic coalition to fight terrorism, Nigeria will
be part of it because we are casualties of Islamic terrorism.”
Asked how
the coalition would work in Nigeria’s interest, the President said it would be
within the framework of Lake Chad Basin coalition against Boko Haram, which
comprises Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon, and Benin.
“I don’t
think we need to tell the press the details in relation to the number of troops
to be deployed by the Lake Chad coalition that would be part of the Saudi-led
coalition,’’ he said. On whether or not his decision would go well with
Nigerian Christians, who make up about half of the country’s population, Buhari
said: “I have just told you it is the Boko Haram itself that declared loyalty
to ISIL. Now, ISIL is basically based in Islamic countries. If there is a
coalition to fight terrorism, why can’t Nigeria be part of it? “Why can’t those
Christians that complain go and fight terrorism in Nigeria or fight the
militants in the south.
It is
Nigeria that matters, not the opinions of some religious bigots.” He denied
seeking to change Nigeria’s multi-religious nature by his actions. “How can I
change the religious identity of Nigeria?” the President queried.
FOR MORE STORIES VISIT
CKN NEWS SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS:
Twitter: @CKNNigeria
Facebook: CKNNigeria
CKN NEWS Hotline:
08080054001
Whatsapp: 08099677755
BBM : 2BE329DF
Website: www.cknnigeria.com
Tags
Politics