Nigeria Urged to Unite with Global Community to Influence Trump's Iran Policy - Falana

Femi Falana, a renowned human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, is urging the Nigerian government to collaborate with other nations to exert diplomatic pressure on the United States regarding its involvement in the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel.

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During an interview on Channels Television's Politics Today on Thursday, Falana criticized US President Donald Trump for his blatant disregard for international law and United Nations resolutions, stating that Trump has withdrawn the United States from approximately 66 United Nations resolutions.

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Falana emphasized that Trump's actions demonstrate a clear contempt for international law, with the President showing no regard for United Nations resolutions, which he believes hold no significance.

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The senior advocate called on Nigeria to revive its tradition of multilateral diplomacy, drawing parallels with the country's active role during the era of the Non-Aligned Movement, and emphasized the need for swift collaboration with other nations to counter the Trump administration.

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Falana stressed the importance of collaborating with other countries, as Nigeria had done in the past, to mount pressure on the Trump administration, saying that the country must move quickly to work with other nations to achieve this goal.

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He also highlighted the need to engage Russia and China as diplomatic intermediaries, arguing that both powers have significant influence over Tehran, and stressed that persuading these countries to intervene is crucial.

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Falana noted that Iran is more likely to listen to China and Russia, and therefore, these two countries should be persuaded to intervene in the conflict.

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Regarding internal security, Falana urged the Federal Government to strengthen Nigeria's security institutions rather than relying on foreign powers, citing Iran's self-reliance as a lesson that Nigeria should learn from.

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He emphasized that Nigeria must equip its armed forces and police force to guarantee law and order, rather than depending on foreign powers like the United States, which will not provide such guarantees.

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Falana also questioned the continued silence surrounding Nigeria's four state-owned refineries, despite the significant amount spent on their rehabilitation, and expressed concern that the NNPC now relies solely on the Dangote Refinery.

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He noted that approximately $2.9 billion was spent on the maintenance of Nigeria's four refineries, and questioned whether this is an effective way to run a country, given the lack of attention being paid to these refineries.