Wike and Muslim Group Clash in Abuja Over Security Deal with Israel
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has vehemently opposed the initiative, citing concerns over potential international espionage and Israel's questionable reputation.
Wike and Muslim Group Clash in Abuja Over Security Deal with Israel
In a surprising turn of events, the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Mr. Nyesome Wike, has found himself embroiled in a heated controversy over his proposed security collaboration with Israeli experts.
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has vehemently opposed the initiative, citing concerns over potential international espionage and Israel’s questionable reputation.
MURIC’s Executive Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, issued a statement on Thursday in Abuja expressing the organization’s reservations about the security partnership.
He warned that partnering with Israel could escalate Nigeria’s security issues from a local crisis to an international fracas, with agencies like MOSSAD, the Israeli secret service, potentially becoming involved.
“We believe that Wike is now courting the Israelis because, like most Nigerian Christians, he holds the wrong notion that Israel is a Christian state whereas the reverse is the case. Several instances confirm that the only religion Israel recognizes and respects is Judaism,” Akintola stated.
MURIC also pointed to recent incidents that have strained interfaith relations in Israel, claiming that just the day before, Jewish individuals had spat on Christian pilgrims in Jerusalem.
The organization argued that Israel’s track record at the United Nations, where it has repeatedly disregarded resolutions condemning its actions against Palestinians, should raise concerns about their suitability as a security partner.
“A terrorist state cannot be the ideal security partner for us in Nigeria. Wike should take the Israelis to Rivers State. Israel constitutes an existential threat to both Muslims and Christians in Nigeria,” Akintola asserted.
The clash of opinions between the Federal Capital Territory Minister and MURIC has sparked a contentious debate over the potential implications of partnering with Israel for Nigeria’s security landscape.
As the nation grapples with ongoing security challenges, this controversy underscores the complexities of forging international security alliances in an increasingly interconnected world.