US advocates for dialogue in resolving Nigeria’s conflicts

- The US advises the Buhari administration to explore possible options beyond military operations in resolving Nigeria’s internal crisis
- Thomas Hushek, acting assistant secretary, bureau of conflict and stabilisation operations, US department of state says durable peace in Nigeria will require a painstaking dialogue
 - Lai Mohammed insists IPOB is a terrorist group

The United States has called on the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to explore the option of dialogue when resolving internal crisis in Nigeria.

he advice was given on Thursday, September 28, in Washington DC when the US institute of peace (USIP) convened a conference titled - Peace in Nigeria: How to build it, and America’s role. The gathering which had in attendance US officials, diplomats and Nigerian leaders, explored possible options beyond military operations in resolving Nigeria’s internal crisis, the Guardian reports. The speakers at the symposium advised the Nigerian government to strengthen the responsiveness of state institutions, address grievances and perceptions before they escalate.

 Thomas Hushek, the acting assistant secretary, bureau of conflict and stabilisation operations, US department of state, said durable peace in Nigeria will require a painstaking dialogue. The diplomat stated that Nigeria is a very critical US partner on the continent, but added that the Buhari government must in its pursuit of peace first identify the options that citizens want implemented

 He said: "Achieving stability or building political peace is a political endeavor." Hushek noted that the Nigerian government’s responsiveness to people’s needs would build trust and encourage durable peace in the country. Meanwhile, Lai Mohammed who is the minister of information and culture has expressed disappointment that the United States does not agree that the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) is a terrorist organisation. In an interview on BBC Focus Africa on Wednesday, September 27, the minister said the utterances and acts of IPOB showed they were terrorists. He said the federal government does not agree with the US stance that the separatist group was not a terrorist orgamnisation. When asked about what he thought concerning the position of the US that IPOB was not a terrorist group, Mohammed described it as unfortunate.