Boko Haram: Why the US is in Nigeria, by envoy

Posted by admin American Politics, Boko Haram, Latest Politics Saturday, December 6th, 2014

By Funmi Ajumobi

To clear the bitterness against United States of America for not being able to help stop insurgency/ terrorism in Nigeria, Mrs Maria E. Brewer, Deputy Missioner, US. Embassy,Abuja, says his country has come to work with Nigeria and not for Nigeria.Brewer spoke while responding to audience question at the Hubert H.Humphrey 2014 Annual Lecture held at the NigerianInstitute of International Affairs, Lagos.Earlier in her keynote address, the diplomat, speaking under the theme, Managing Down Insurgency:The American Experience, affirmed that Nigeria is theUnited States’ most important strategic partner in Africa and wants Nigeria to win its war on terrorism.

She said that the United States haslearned that defeating terrorism requires more than just militarypower, saying it requires economic development in impoverished areaswhere extremism takes root, accessible education opportunities forall and a free and fair press that can report openly and without fearof reprisal.Brewer said, “Fighting terrorism requires civilian and militaryleaders to work together to both defeat the enemy on the battle fieldand address the root causes of conflict. Focussing primarily on thepopulation, rather than the enemy, and reinforcing the legitimacy ofgovernments at the local, state and federal level, reduces theinfluence of terrorists.

This can often only be achieved in concertwith political reform to improve the quality of governance andaddress the underlying grievances of the community, many of which maybe legitimate”. – See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/12/boko-haram-us-nigeria-envoy/#sthash.ZohomvHG.dpuf

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