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Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Gumi, has accused the United States of America of being complicit in Nigeria’s insurgency.
Sheikh Gumi also alleged that the US has been indirectly arming Boko Haram to destabilise Nigeria.
Fielding questions on a live current affairs programme, Frank Talk, on Rave 91.7FM, Osogbo, on Tuesday, Gumi said the alleged foreign interference was part of a wider plot to pressure Nigeria into hosting an American military base.
Gumi claimed that Western powers, particularly the United States, have continued to play a hidden role in sustaining Nigeria’s insecurity.
“The countries of the Sahel have all driven out the imperialists. We can do it; we just need the mind to do it. The threat is still hanging on Nigeria, and it is going to affect our economy if you don’t know.
“The United States is part and parcel of our problem. They have been arming Boko Haram,” he alleged.
He also questioned who could have the financial strength to support such insurgent groups.
“Who has the power and financial capabilities to arm these insurgents? You’re looking at it from the local view rather than internationally.
“America is part of it. Why is this so, you may ask? So that Nigeria can give them a military base. They were just driven away from Niger, but they still want a base in Africa. They want Nigeria,” he added.
According to him, the alleged strategy is to frighten Nigerians with Boko Haram so that Nigeria will later call on them for a solution.
The cleric also criticised foreign military interventions, urging instead for domestic peacebuilding and intelligence-based strategies to tackle insecurity.
He cited the statement of a former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, to back his claim.
“For the herdsmen, it is easier because they are the ones coming and looking for peace. But for Boko Haram, they are sponsored internationally.
“Even the former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, said so in his last interview,” he stated.
Gumi advised that the federal government must identify foreign actors behind Nigeria’s insecurity and urged the government to sustain efforts against banditry, especially in the North-West.
“They capitalise on illiteracy, poverty, and ignorance in general. The government must ensure that youths, particularly in the North-East, are informed so they will not be used with fake moral or religious ideology.
“The banditry in the North-West is coming down, so nobody should come and destroy it when it is now gradually reducing,” he said.
Commenting on former US President Donald Trump’s recent remarks about helping Christians in Nigeria, Gumi accused him of being Islamophobic and maintained that there was no inherent animosity between Muslims and Christians in Nigeria.
He said, “How can Nigerian Muslims be comfortable with President Trump since he has declared that he is coming to help Christians? He is just being Islamophobic.
“It is just artificial. People are trying to divide us just to steal our resources.”
On his past peace efforts, Gumi said his decision to meet armed herdsmen in states such as Katsina was aimed at fostering dialogue.
“Peace has no price tag. You can spend anything to achieve peace,” he explained.
He added that most Fulani herders were Nigerians and that their violent actions were often retaliatory.
“Usually, the Fulani man is quiet. Whenever they attack, somebody did something to them. Usually, these are revenge attacks,” he stated.
Sheikh Gumi accuses US of arming insurgents, seeks peaceful solutions
