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Don’t Be Involved in Boko Haram – Campbell Urges U.S.
- By Williams Ekanem
- Published September 19th, 2011
- Washington File
- Unrated
United States former Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. John Campbell has warned his home government against involvement in Nigeria’s anti-terror activities, especially Boko Haram.
According to Campbell, “If the United States becomes associated with Abuja’s oppression, then we and the international community become fair game,” he was quoted, noting that the UN bombing indicates that it is possible this has already happened.”
Campbell who was quoted in a write up of the Council on Foreign Relations, in which he is a senior fellow question the extent of Boko Haram regional terror ties and say it is unclear which attacks are actually the work of Boko Haram.
This is because according to the report,” there is concern that some of the acts may be the work of criminals looking to capitalize on the mayhem (some of the targets supposedly attacked by Boko Haram have been banks, for instance) or perpetrated by other groups hostile to the state. They also argue the group has a legitimate grievance against the country’s security forces and that international intervention could distract from policy actions needed to address the underlying issues.”
In his statement just after the bombing of the United Nations in Abuja, the former Nigerian Ambassador stated that, “Boko Haram has been an indigenous, grassroots insurrection against a discredited Abuja government and against the traditional northern Nigerian Islamic establishment. It has not been a part of an international terrorist movement, though doubtlessly there have been contacts with al-Qaeda in the Maghreb and al-Shabab. Boko Haram appears to be decentralized in its leadership without a charismatic leader or a politburo. The Abuja government has not sought to address the deep-seated discontent of the Muslim north that underpins support for Boko Haram, but rather has imposed a heavy and often brutal security presence under the justification of anti-terrorism.”
Campbell, a Ralph Bunche Senior Fellow for Africa Policy Studies, who served as US ambassador to Nigeria between 2004 and 2007, has in recent times positioned himself with the opposition group in Nigeria chiding the present democratic government.
This is largely reflected in his rather negative remarks about Nigeria’s political situation, and specifically in his book titled, “ Nigeria:
Only on May 2, 2011, Campbell in the opinion page of New York Times in an article titled, “Nigeria: The Morning After,” derided the internationally commended April 2011 general elections stating that, “the elections have polarized Nigeria and resulted in likely underreported bloodshed in the northern parts of the country.”
He predicted in the article that Al Qaeda may soon penetrate Boko Haram.
According to the article, “as measured by polling data, the North is much less sympathetic to the United States than the South. And, whether justified or not, many in the North see Jonathan as the American candidate. Northern rage against the Nigerian political system and the Jonathan presidency may increase hostility toward the United States, providing space for anti-Western movements to gain a foothold. Up to now, extremist groups such as Boko Haram have remained domestically focused and Al Qaeda has had little success in its efforts to penetrate the North. That might change. “
Campbell added that, “it is therefore imperative for the United States and its Western allies to reach out to the North. Speedy opening of the planned U.S. consulate in Kano would be a step in the right direction.”
According to Campbell, “If the United States becomes associated with Abuja’s oppression, then we and the international community become fair game,” he was quoted, noting that the UN bombing indicates that it is possible this has already happened.”
Campbell who was quoted in a write up of the Council on Foreign Relations, in which he is a senior fellow question the extent of Boko Haram regional terror ties and say it is unclear which attacks are actually the work of Boko Haram.
This is because according to the report,” there is concern that some of the acts may be the work of criminals looking to capitalize on the mayhem (some of the targets supposedly attacked by Boko Haram have been banks, for instance) or perpetrated by other groups hostile to the state. They also argue the group has a legitimate grievance against the country’s security forces and that international intervention could distract from policy actions needed to address the underlying issues.”
In his statement just after the bombing of the United Nations in Abuja, the former Nigerian Ambassador stated that, “Boko Haram has been an indigenous, grassroots insurrection against a discredited Abuja government and against the traditional northern Nigerian Islamic establishment. It has not been a part of an international terrorist movement, though doubtlessly there have been contacts with al-Qaeda in the Maghreb and al-Shabab. Boko Haram appears to be decentralized in its leadership without a charismatic leader or a politburo. The Abuja government has not sought to address the deep-seated discontent of the Muslim north that underpins support for Boko Haram, but rather has imposed a heavy and often brutal security presence under the justification of anti-terrorism.”
Campbell, a Ralph Bunche Senior Fellow for Africa Policy Studies, who served as US ambassador to Nigeria between 2004 and 2007, has in recent times positioned himself with the opposition group in Nigeria chiding the present democratic government.
This is largely reflected in his rather negative remarks about Nigeria’s political situation, and specifically in his book titled, “ Nigeria:
Only on May 2, 2011, Campbell in the opinion page of New York Times in an article titled, “Nigeria: The Morning After,” derided the internationally commended April 2011 general elections stating that, “the elections have polarized Nigeria and resulted in likely underreported bloodshed in the northern parts of the country.”
He predicted in the article that Al Qaeda may soon penetrate Boko Haram.
According to the article, “as measured by polling data, the North is much less sympathetic to the United States than the South. And, whether justified or not, many in the North see Jonathan as the American candidate. Northern rage against the Nigerian political system and the Jonathan presidency may increase hostility toward the United States, providing space for anti-Western movements to gain a foothold. Up to now, extremist groups such as Boko Haram have remained domestically focused and Al Qaeda has had little success in its efforts to penetrate the North. That might change. “
Campbell added that, “it is therefore imperative for the United States and its Western allies to reach out to the North. Speedy opening of the planned U.S. consulate in Kano would be a step in the right direction.”
