SODIQ LAWAL
Dear President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,
I write to you as a Nigerian committed to justice, peace, and the dignity of nations. Your “Renewed Hope” agenda has raised expectations across the country. Yet, its true test lies not only in the promises you make at home but also in how Nigeria positions itself before the world. It is within this light that I express deep concern over Nigeria’s proposed security pact with Israel.
At a time when global voices are condemning the devastation in Gaza, with countless civilians killed and humanitarian law openly violated, Nigeria’s partnership with Israel risks putting us on the wrong side of history. This agreement, rather than strengthening our security, threatens to weaken our moral credibility and undermine the values that have guided our foreign policy for decades.
Nigeria has never been silent in the face of injustice. We championed the struggle against apartheid in South Africa, intervened to restore peace in Liberia and Sierra Leone, and stood firm for democracy in The Gambia. These sacrifices earned us respect as a voice for the oppressed. Aligning now with a state accused of systematic aggression and crimes against humanity places that legacy at risk.
Our own history offers sobering lessons. During the Nigerian Civil War, records show that Israel supplied arms to the Biafran secessionists, a move that endangered our sovereignty and forced the government of General Yakubu Gowon to cut diplomatic ties in 1973. To now entrust Israel with sensitive matters of national security disregards those painful lessons. Security partnerships must be built on trust and integrity, not on past betrayals.
Mr President, Nigeria has always been known as a country that stands for the liberation of oppressed peoples. To embrace security cooperation with a nation whose leaders are facing accusations before the International Criminal Court for war crimes is to betray that tradition. It is to choose convenience over principle, and short-term gain over long-term integrity.
I therefore respectfully urge Your Excellency to reconsider and reverse the proposed security pact with Israel. Entering into such an agreement, at this sensitive time, risks undermining Nigeria’s moral standing in the international community and could erode the values that have defined our foreign policy for decades.
Nigeria has always been known for defending oppressed peoples and upholding international law. This proud tradition must not be compromised. By staying true to our principles, we not only protect our global reputation but also reinforce our role as a beacon of justice and fairness in Africa and beyond.
Equally important is the need to safeguard our sovereignty from external influences that may compromise our independence. Security partnerships must be rooted in trust and shared respect for human rights, not in expediency or convenience.
Your Excellency, history will inevitably judge the choices made under your leadership. Nigeria must not be remembered as a nation that traded its conscience for short-term political advantage. Let us remain steadfast in our commitment to justice, peace, and humanity, values that have always defined our strength and our identity as a nation.
Thank you, Sir.
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Long live our shared humanity.
Sodiq Lawal, a Journalist & Human Rights Advocate writes from Ile-Ife, Osun State.