Nigeria: A Rogue State in the Wake of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab’s Terror Adventure?

Abstract

The western world perception of the Third World States (TWS) in general and Africa in particular continues to generate academic curiosity. When it is suitable for the North, name tagging will be accorded to these states. The December 2009 attempted bombing of the Detroit bound Delta airline by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab (UFA), a Nigerian, relegated the erstwhile darling of the West to a ‘concern state’, a diplomatic way of addressing it as a rogue/terrorist enclave. As long as America continues to dictate the tune, the objectivity of placing each state on the level of its political and economic status will remain a mirage. Issues that always garner nuances are among others, the concept of terrorism, rogue/pariah and militant state. Seeing Nigeria as a terrorist state to be watched could be said to be a continuation of double standard of the Eurocentric dominated international system. While some European states are noted for their incessant bombings, but remain trusted allied of Washington, the UFA misadventure was politicised in spite of Nigeria’s not only being pro-American stance, but also being a fervid supporter of the European Union’s orientation and policies. To understand phenomenon of terrorism, there is a need to have a global look into it as against state-centric approach. To curtail terrorism in the country, economic and educational systems that are domestically planned, executed and evaluated are needed.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n23p1866