By Abdullahi Abdulrahman, Yenagoa
National News — The Onu of Igala in Bayelsa State and leader of the North Central Tribunal Council among non-indigenes, HRH Alhaji Abdullahi A. Abdullahi, has attributed Nigeria’s rising insecurity to the influence of foreign powers.
In an exclusive interview with National News in Yenagoa, Abdullahi alleged that international actors are sponsoring insecurity in Nigeria to exploit the country’s natural resources.
He explained that insecurity in Nigeria operates on two levels: the local and the international. According to him, the local dimension involves clashes between herders and farmers, while the international dimension affects mainly the northern region.
“The international level is when foreign powers sponsor terrorist activities in a country to create division among its citizens along religious or ethnic lines for their own benefit,” Abdullahi said.
He further argued that Nigeria is not alone in facing such challenges, noting that several African countries have been affected by similar external interference.
“These foreign powers, particularly those interested in other nations’ resources — for example, the United States — act as destabilizing forces. They sponsor terrorist organizations across Africa to keep people divided,” he claimed.
“This allows them to exploit resources, and anyone who resists is eliminated, as seen in the cases of Patrice Lumumba, Thomas Sankara, Muammar Gaddafi, and others,” he added.
Speaking on solutions, Abdullahi suggested that local conflicts, especially between farmers and herders, could be addressed through increased security presence and dialogue involving northern leaders in affected areas.
He stressed the need for national unity in confronting insecurity.
“As a nation, we must identify our common enemy and unite to end terrorism and resist foreign elements seeking to destabilize us,” he said.
He also urged the Federal Government to empower local communities to defend themselves.
“Authorities should allow communities to organize their own security and legally acquire arms for self-defense. The government has fallen short in this regard. Life has no duplicate,” he stated.
On governance in Bayelsa State, Abdullahi commended the state government, describing it as a “prosperity-driven administration” that has positively impacted lives and infrastructure.
However, he expressed concern over what he described as the political marginalization of northern groups, particularly the treatment of the North as a single bloc.
“It is not appropriate to classify the entire North as one zone. The region comprises the Northwest, Northeast, and North Central, and each should be recognized individually,” he said.
According to him, such recognition would ensure fair representation and proper acknowledgment of leaders across the regions.
