Dare Babalola
Former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Kingsley Moghalu, has called on the Nigerian government to adopt a more robust approach to tackling terrorism, stressing that negotiating with terrorists or attempting to placate them is a failed strategy.
According to Moghalu in a post he made via Facebook on Thursday, “Negotiating with terrorists, or trying to placate them, is a failing formula. Terrorists are wiped out by serious governments. They are not turned into terropreneurs.”
He emphasised that intelligence gathering, true patriotism, and political will, combined with well-equipped and motivated security and armed forces, are the essentials for defeating terrorism.
Moghalu cited the example of the United States, which has successfully combated terrorism through decisive action.
“How many terrorist attacks have happened in America after 9/11? You think it’s because the terrorists went to bed?” he rhetorically asked.
The former minister stressed that Nigeria has no choice but to fight and defeat terrorism, with all means necessary.
“Nigeria has NO choice but to fight and defeat terrorism, with all means necessary,” he emphasised.
He suggested that employing mercenaries could be a short-term option, but ultimately, domestic security services must take responsibility. “The use of mercenaries is an option. But it’s only a short term one, for nothing can replace the responsibility of domestic security services.”
Moghalu also lamented Nigeria’s loss of standing and prestige globally, attributing it to poor leadership and an obsession with politicking rather than governance.
“Nigeria has lost standing and prestige in the world. This is down to the failure of leadership, characterized by an obsession with politicking for political power instead of actually governing as a path to political legitimacy,” he said.
He added, “I am old enough to remember when our country commanded real respect in the world. Today, NIGERIANS, especially in the diaspora, have brought far more recognition to our country because of their INDIVIDUAL spectacular achievements, in a manner our governments have failed to do.”
Moghalu concluded that Nigeria’s current situation is precarious, and a business-as-usual approach will not suffice.
“Nigeria has found itself where our politicians would rather not have been: Like a deer in the headlamps of a vehicle. Exposed. It’s an interesting- and unfortunate- situation. Anyone who thinks we are in a business-as-usual situation doesn’t get it,” he warned.
