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Chinese Envoy Advised West Africa Leaders to Resist External Interference
Chinese Envoy Advised West Africa Leaders to Resist External Interference#
By; Michael Mike
The Chinese envoy to Nigeria, Ambassador Yu Dunhai has called on political leaders in West Africa to resist all forms of external interference.
Yu, speaking on Friday in Abuja at an exchange programme between students from Tsinghua University of China and University of Abuja, with theme “Civilizational Exchange and Mutual Learning between China and Nigeria.”
He said: “I looked at the security situation now in West Africa. I know that many people are very much concerned. But one principle I believe that is very important is that we should object to any foreign interference in the region.
“But particularly by any major powers. I think, you know, for civilisation, exchange, and mutual learning, there are two principles that we need to follow. Because it’s very important.
“I think we should respect equality, equity, and peace. All civilisation is equal. We don’t believe that there is any civilisation that is secure and empowered. Because each civilisation grows from its own national condition. For instance, the civilisation of the United States. It grows from the real condition of this country.”
Yu also called for improved communication and exchange between his country and Nigeria.
He said: “The first partnership action is the people-to-people exchange and mutual learning. That’s why I believe that today we have to build and improve our communication and exchange in combination to this very important topic. Why is the people-to-people exchange so important? Because countries’ relations eventually boil down to people-to-people exchanges.
“Nigeria is very much blessed with rich resources, huge development potential.
So, I see there is great potential for the development of Nigeria.
“I believe that people-to-people exchange creates the foundation for our bilateral relations. Because while China and Europe are bilateral relations, it’s not only about government-to-government relations. It’s not only about business.
But eventually, it’s people-to-people relations. Over the years, China and Nigeria have carried out a lot of cultural exchanges. For instance, we co-hosted the Cultural Week of China and Nigeria.
“We hosted the Chinese Festival event. And we invited Chinese artists to come to Nigeria to work together with Nigerian artists. And we established a cultural centre in our respective countries.
“And we know the Chinese cultural centre is very active here in our region. And, of course, the universities of our two countries jointly established two cultural centres in Nigeria.”
He stated that China and Nigeria share a lot of similarities, saying “We have a lot of common values. The first one is that I find that in Nigeria and China, we are both disarming countries.
“We do not believe in war. For instance, I have studied the history of Nigeria. Since the founding of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Nigeria has never been involved in a war. And if you look at China, it’s the same. Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, we have never initiated a war with the other countries.
“Both China and Nigeria believe in peace for several decades. 2,000 years ago, there was a Chinese philosopher. You know, who wrote the article? And he believed that the war should always be peaceful and non-violent.
“Security is best when you can thwart your enemies through tele-machines. For instance, if you look at the map of China, it’s very much different compared to the map of Nigeria. Because China, the boundaries exist.
##“You know, because we have 2,000 years of history, we have a lot of issues with our neighbouring countries. So when the People’s Republic of China was founded, we had border issues with each and every neighbouring country we have borders with on the land. And over the past 70 years, we have resolved all these border issues.That’s one level. First, peaceful means.”
“And that actually really reflects that China is a country, a naturalised country, that we love. We don’t believe in war. We don’t believe in conflict.
“And the second similarity is that both China and Nigeria are peaceful. And we have splendid cultures. Nigeria is the region, the culture, the civilisation, the region of Africa.
“And the third point is, both China and Nigeria have very much multi-ethnic cultures. Nigeria has the most ethnic groups in the world. Over 250, I would say.
And China, we have 56 ethnic groups. And these people live together peacefully. People respect this diversity.And we live together in harmony.
“And of course, the fourth one, the similarity I identified is, both Nigeria and China, we won our national independence partly.
“Because both China and Nigeria were invaded, colonised, even divided by the Western powers. And we won our independence with a lot of struggle and fight. That’s why we cherish our sovereignty.”
The envoy also spoke about the gains of diversity, saying respect for diversity is tue beckon upon which unity is built.
“The first one, I believe that we should respect diversity as our nation. The world is diversified. I mean, the beauty of the world actually lies in its diversity.
“Each country is unique. As a diplomat, I have been privileged to travel to over 70 countries all over the world. And being in a travel group in so many places, I always find that each country is unique.
“And each country, the civilisation of each country is inherently tied with the global civilisation. And also make contributions to human civilisation, to the development and progress of humanity. Imagine that if there is only one language, if there is only one music, if there is only one culture in the whole world, what could, you know, how poor could it be? You know, you couldn’t imagine.
“We believe that we live in a global environment. That we live in a world of independence. That’s why the Chinese presidency wants to push forward the idea of building a community with a shared future for all mankind.”
Chinese Envoy Advised West Africa Leaders to Resist External Interference
Troops repel insurgents, neutralise suspected informant in Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have repelled suspected insurgents and neutralised a suspected informant during operations in Ngamdu area of Borno.
Military sources said the action followed signals intelligence indicating that suspected Boko Haram elements were massing.
At about 2:30 a.m. on Feb. 18, troops carried out a fire mission on the identified area, forcing the insurgents to disperse and abort their suspected plan.
Shortly afterward, at about 3:45 a.m., troops engaged and neutralised a suspected insurgent informant who attempted to breach the trench defensive position in Ngamdu.
Sources said the troops immediately conducted a search of the surrounding area after the encounter but made no further contact with fleeing suspects.
Troops repel insurgents, neutralise suspected informant in Borno
Yobe: Troops Disperse Terrorists, Arrest Five Suspected Arms Smugglers
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have disrupted a suspected terrorist gathering and arrested five suspected arms smugglers during separate operations in Yobe State.
Security sources said that at about 6:21 p.m. on Feb. 17, troops conducted a fire mission following credible intelligence that terrorists were converging in large numbers on motorcycles at Mangari, about 10.6 kilometres from the location of the 135 Special Forces Battalion in Buratai.
The swift action forced the insurgents to disperse in disarray, effectively disrupting their suspected plans.
In a separate development, troops of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Potiskum apprehended five suspected arms smugglers and abductors at about 4:30 a.m. on Feb. 18 at a checkpoint along the Gombe–Potiskum road.
Those arrested included a 41-year-old suspect, Baba Abare, who was found in possession of an AK-47 rifle, alongside four others identified as Idris Zakari, 33; Nasiru Aliyu, 25; Abdullahi Sulaiman, 35; and Mohammed Idris, 34, all said to be indigenes of Potiskum town.
The suspects were intercepted in two Golf Wagon vehicles bearing registration numbers Borno NGL-506XA and Kaduna DKD16-01.
They were disarmed and handed over to appropriate authorities for further investigation.
Yobe: Troops Disperse Terrorists, Arrest Five Suspected Arms Smugglers
News
Ward Congress: Bayelsa APC Group Condemns Marginalization Of Sylva’s Supporters, Call On Party NWC, Tinubu To Intervene
Ward Congress: Bayelsa APC Group Condemns Marginalization Of Sylva’s Supporters, Call On Party NWC, Tinubu To Intervene
The Bayelsa State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Grassroot Movement (BSAGM), has expressed deep dissatisfaction over the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri biased, marginalized conduct of the party ward congress in the state.
Condemning in strong terms the APC ward congress conducted on Wednesday, 18th of February, 2026, the group described the process as witch-hunt of a selected group of stakeholders and leaders in the party.
A statement issued on Thursday by the group’s spokesman, Mr John Peremobowei, condemned the governor’s deliberate segregation of key stakeholders in various wards geared towards generating division.
Some APC stalwarts through their followers have expressed profound dissatisfaction on the social media over segregation and non-inclusion of critical stakeholders who stood firmly as an opposition in building the “Hausa party” in Bayelsa State.
They stated that Governor Douye Diri’s failure to conduct an all inclusive APC congress in various wards across the state; which is his first assignment as party leader after defection, has proven beyond a shadow of doubt that the governor is incapable to manage affairs of the party in the state.
The group said “Governor Diri who could not manage insignificant affairs of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP leading to Mr George Turnah factional leadership in Bayelsa, has transferred the same attitude from the PDP to the APC barely four months of defection.
“The governor whose administration and leadership depend, and feed on propaganda, rumours, gossip from subordinates without investigation before making decisions, obviously cannot build, neither maintain the APC–as he couldn’t manage the PDP.
“Senator Diri leadership of division, propaganda to incite leaders against other leaders, can’t build people like he was deliberately built by the likes of former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, Chief Timi Alaibe, Senator Seriake Dickson and others.
“Diri is a Supreme Court Governor who has never had grassroot support due to failure to manage people from his days in house of representatives, senate till date as governor, and the Bayelsa APC is in trouble because he can’t build neither maintain a party.”
The group said the governor who was a financier of Atiku-Okowa PDP presidential ticket, and worked so hard against President Ahmed Bola Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election, defected to the APC for fear of prosecution by the anti-corruption agencies over misappropriation.
Governor Diri who has been receiving over thirty-four billion naira and above on a monthly basis from the federation account since the inception of President Bola Tinubu administration, was caught by the United States interpol with huge amount of money early 2025.
The group’s spokesman cried out to the APC National Working Committee, President Bola Tinubu for immediate intervention, saying followers/loyalists of the former governor and minister, Chief Timipre Sylva were sidelined in the ward congress in various wards across the state, describing it as witch-hunt.
“Sylva with the support of loyalists brought APC to Bayelsa, and fought so hard to build, and strengthen the party as an opposition, and today, he is unjustly marginalized in the party.
“Despite undeserved exclusion in the party congresses, we the steadfast supporters of Chief Timipre Sylva will stand firm in galvanizing support for President Bola Tinubu re-election.
“We have stood firm in APC even as an opposition in the state, but can’t relent now that it is the ruling party.
“We call on President Bola Tinubu to intervene, as he did in Rivers, and call Governor Douye Diri to order–as his actions are targeted towards generating division in the party.
Ward Congress: Bayelsa APC Group Condemns Marginalization Of Sylva’s Supporters, Call On Party NWC, Tinubu To Intervene
Troops repel insurgents, neutralise suspected informant in Borno
Yobe: Troops Disperse Terrorists, Arrest Five Suspected Arms Smugglers
Ward Congress: Bayelsa APC Group Condemns Marginalization Of Sylva’s Supporters, Call On Party NWC, Tinubu To Intervene
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