Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (Sokoto, PDP) has declared that he would not welcome further US air strikes attacks, but preferred diplomatic and political engagement anchored on transparency and mutual understanding.
Tambuwal stated this when he was a guest of ARISE NEWS on Monday.
“I would not want to see more attacks,” he said, adding that what was needed was “a clearer and well-defined framework between the Nigerian government and the US government for these engagements.”
He expressed hope that the US military intervention in Nigeria in December would not recur, calling on both governments to evolve a clear and well-defined framework to support Nigeria’s fight against insecurity.
According to him, the US airstrikes and earlier statements by the US government appeared to have influenced the ruling party’s posture, suggesting that the administration subsequently began to act more decisively.
“I think that intervention, first the statements from President Trump and the subsequent missile attack, had some effect on the government of the day. They now had to sit down and say, look at what’s happening. You could see some positive impact on the way the administration is now thinking,” he said.
He accused the legislature of not engaging in oversight on security arrangements. “I’m a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. These issues were not tabled before us. If you ask us today, we don’t know how it came about. At this level, we should know certain things,” he said.
Tambuwal said any agreement involving Nigeria’s military or government and foreign partners should be explicit and properly outlined, adding that such cooperation should not be limited to the United States.
“Every other country willing to help Nigeria address the security challenges we are facing should be welcomed,” he said.
On the forthcoming 2027 general election, Tambuwal said relying just on foreign intervention cannot guarantee free, fair and acceptable elections.
Tambuwal, who is actively involved in the African Democratic Congress (ADC), on Monday, recalled that international engagement played a role in the 2015 general election and contributed to the victory of the then opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) over incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan.
He said he was not against intervention by the international community in Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, if it would help to ensure a credible process.
“From even our recent history, the intervention of the international community shaped the election of 2015, which the APC benefited from. So, I expect similar intervention from the international community,” he said when asked whether he would support diplomatic pressure on the government to ensure free and fair elections in 2027.
He said foreign engagement was not the only to achieve credible polls but remained one of several options.
Tambuwal clarified that he was not singling out any specific country, adding that “I’m not particular about the United States. I’m talking about democratic countries and the international community making sure, without direct interference, that elections are free, credible and fair.”
Tambuwal was a member of the APC during the 2015 election but is currently in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), despite aligning with the coalition-backed ADC.
