By Aideloje Ojo
Minna
Chairman of the Northern States Governors Forum and Governor of Niger state, Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, has said that the assistance by the international community to fight Boko Haram should not be misconstrued as invasion of the nation.
Aliyu stated this in Minna when he received the Ambassador of Sudan to Nigeria, Dr. Tagelsir Mahaguol Ali, who paid him a courtesy visit.
He expressed the belief that with the international community assistance, the fight against insurgency should not exceed three months, but urged Nigerians to learn from what happened in Sudan and “keep the unity of our nation.”
He regretted that a nation that had been seen ‘as a peace keeper’ “now needs the assistance of the international community to maintain peace within its territory,” advising that Nigerians should rally round the federal government to ensure peace returned to all parts of the country.
Aliyu restated his belief that with the support of the international community and cooperation by Nigerians, insurgency would be brought to an end in all parts of the country within three months.
The Sudan envoy said over 10 million Nigerians were living peacefully in Sudan.
He said he was in the state to open up portfolios of cooperation with the state government in areas of education, health, agriculture and investments, adding that over 12, 000 Nigerian students were currently studying in Sudan Universities and tertiary institutions.
