The Nigerian authorities have accused the administration
of US President Barack Obama of politicizing anti-Boko Haram fight. The accusation was posed on Saturday, November 21,
by Nigeria’s Ambassador to Atlanta Georgia and its environs, Geoffrey
Teneilabe, who spoke after the business conference in Chicago. The
diplomat blamed the US government for not effectively assisting Nigeria in
its counter-terrorism action adding that it all started with the US having
refused to sell arms to Nigeria.
“The decision of the United States government not to sell
arms to Nigeria in order to effectively combat members of the Boko Haram sect
is uncalled for and it is political. “Despite the challenges faced, former
President Goodluck Jonathan was able to curb the activities of Boko Haram to
some extents, and if the US had agreed to sell arms to Nigeria, maybe by now
the sect would have been defeated.”
He, however, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his
effort to end insurgency in the northeast and urged Nigerians to pray for the
country to deal with the security challenges. It should be noted
that US principal assistant secretary of the Bureau of Political-Military
Affairs, Todd Chapman, earlier in November reiterated the US commitment in
supporting Nigeria’s fight against Boko Haram. “So the relationship is good. We’re looking forward,
we’re looking at training, we’re looking at equipment, we’re looking at a whole
range of issues whereby the US and the US military and the US government can be
helpful to the Nigerian government as they take on this threat.”