AFENIFERE Renewal Group (ARG) has cautioned the Federal Government against deploying troops in Mali, saying it is unnecessary to do so.
The group urged Nigeria to review its foreign policy because of the current realities in global politics.
In a statement by its spokesman, Kunle Famoriyo, the group said Nigeria should tackle its domestic challenges, instead of playing the role of a big brother to other nations.
The statement reads: “Nigeria has over the years played very commendable roles in the international arena, especially in the area of fostering global peace. But while we appreciate the role of the Nigerian Armed Forces in most peace-keeping missions in the past, since Congo in the 1960s, the ARG wishes to state that the move by Nigeria to spearhead another policing and military operations in the West African state of Mali, with a mission for restoring democracy in that country, is clearly a misplaced priority.
“This is against the fact that Nigeria is confronted with myriads of economic, social, political and fundamental security problems. We believe this is not the time to mind other people’s business, when we are running what could be described as a deficit account in many facets of our existence as a nation. The country’s leadership should desist from any form of diversionary adventures that are not designed to frontally confront the evils besetting us.
“We have always had a situation, where, despite our huge contributions to stability in other lands, what we have received in return has not been commensurate with those contributions.
“While not advocating a policy of isolation, it is our position that what is urgently required is for the leadership of the country to channel its energy to resolving the problems facing us, especially the critical security challenges for which we need all hands to be on deck. It should not be said again that we have money, but the problem is how to spend it.”
TheNation