By Pius Awunah
The Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN) has called on the United Nations (UN) to intervene in USA’s President Donald Trump’s threat against Nigeria over alleged killings of Christians in the country.
In a press statement by the National Commandant of the Corps, Dr. Dickson Ameh Akoh,arising from a press conference he addressed recently, Akoh expressed the Corps great concern with the remarks of Trump, wherein he designated Nigeria as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ and threatened the use of military might over the perceived genocide against Christians in Nigeria.
The Commandant noted that the threat, if carried out, would be counterproductive because vulnerable Nigerians would be exposed to avoidable dangers and hardships.
”Peace Corps of Nigeria acknowledges the gravity of insecurity affecting citizens of all faiths and ethnic backgrounds, including foreign nationals, we hereby passionately appeal to Mr. Trump, in the interest of global peace and security, to rather than resorting to the threats of deploying military force, choose diplomacy and a peaceful approach as the best option in the interest of the vulnerable and peaceful Nigerians and foreigners alike”,he said.
According to him,military intervention, especially unilateral action, carries an inherent and enormous risk that complicates an already complex environment and threatens to escalate violence as well as risks destabilizing the very communities it seeks to protect,thus,potentially creating a humanitarian crisis far worse than the original problem.
He said what Nigeria requires at the moment was a collaborative, strategic support, not confrontation,adding that a non-kinetic approach was vital as Nigeria was ready to partner with international bodies and the US government through peaceful and developmental means.
”The deployment of resources for job creation, education, and peace-building programmes represents a far more sustainable and effective path to peace than the deployment of troops.
“We urge the United States to respect our territorial integrity and engage through established diplomatic channels,” he stressed.
Akoh stated that “by virtue of its Special Consultative Status granted in 2013, the Peace Corps of Nigeria is part of the UN system and shares its core ideal: a commitment to global peace and security” and that since any regional threat risks global stability,the United Nations should urgently leverage consultative dialogue, integrated negotiation, and high-level diplomacy to mediate the rising tensions between its member states, America and Nigeria.
