A Nigerian Civil Society group, Muslim Awareness International (MAI) has called on the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration to severe diplomatic relations with Israel and her allies in the western world for the violation of several international laws against Palestine.
Speaking Lagos at the joint press conference, held in Lagos, South-West, Nigeria, the Deputy Director, MAI, Dada Yaqeen said Nigeria boycotted the colonialists during the General Babangida and Obasanjo regimes (in 1976 Montreal Canada Olympic Games and 1986 Edinburgh Scotland Commonwealth Games) in protest against racism in South Africa.
“The Buhari-led administration should continue to maintain the past foreign policies of Nigeria in terms of unrestricted support for decolonization as it did for Congo, South Africa, Namibia, Angola, etc. Hence, the decolonization of Palestine and the stopping of Aparthied Israeli government should be her outmost priority,” he added.
The group therefore urged Nigeria to be careful and review its foreign policy goals with Israel, saying they are dishonest people who, if given one opportunity, they will want to take five, even more.
MAI Deputy Director said, “At first, the Israelis were given small portion of the Palestinian lands but gradually, they started expanding, with the support of their allies, especially the US. Their creation in 1948 led to the mass exodus of about 700,000 Palestinians which led to what is known today as An-Nakbah, (the Catastrophe). Between then and now, they have stolen virtually all Palestinian lands without any meaningful step to tame it.
“We are calling on the Nigerian government to be careful in their dealings with Israel and the super powers. When you engage in any diplomatic relationship with them, don’t go to sleep. By the way, what does the country want to benefit from an apartheid regime who does nothing other than maiming and killing of innocent Palestinians? Maybe the FG should tell us what they have benefited from such relationship over the years?
“Back in History, when the super powers were discussing with Hussein Sharif, the leader of Makkah, during the time of Ottoman Empire. They promised to support him against the Ottoman. They also promised him the mantle of leadership of the Ottoman Empire which was about to collapse during the world war.
“Unfortunately for him, little did he know that they had other plans, which was to share the lands of the Ottomans among themselves. When you are relating with the super powers, the Nigerian government needs to be careful. Their interest comes first, not that of our country. If not, why are they too quick to condemn the actions of the federal government fighting against insurrectionists in the country? They are condoning and giving safe haven to terrorists to make Nigeria ungovernable,” he added.
