Nigeria's peace councils exist but sit idle - Tinubu must talk with rivals to end insecurity

Eric Teniola argues Nigeria's kidnapping and insurgency crisis needs political dialogue, not military force, urging President Tinubu to initiate talks with opposition leaders as Churchill advised 'jaw-jaw is better than war-war.' The solution must come from government, not public negotiations with militants.

Despite existing peace bodies - the Constitutional National Council of State (last met October 2025), the election-focused National Peace Committee, and the inter-religious NIREC (meeting geo-politically quarterly) - insecurity persists. These bodies include ex-presidents, governors, and religious leaders but meet too infrequently.

Tinubu should follow Shagari's 1979 example by dialoguing with presidential candidates pre/post-election. With lives at stake daily, will you demand your leaders prioritize peace talks over military options that clearly aren't working?

SOURCE: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/opinion/892101-insecurity-the-possible-way-out-by-eric-teniola.html