Ehud Barak
Nigeria has a long-standing, historically rooted foreign policy stance that supports Palestinian self-determination and a two-state solution. Many Nigerian intellectuals, pan-Africanists, and civil society groups view Israel’s policies through an anti-colonial lens. Hosting a former Israeli prime minister and defence minister is viewed by critics as an implicit endorsement of the Israeli state’s military record and ongoing settlement expansions, which directly contradicts Nigeria’s traditional diplomatic solidarity with the Palestinian cause.
Congratulations, Nigeria! For a change, we are singing songs of joy, not elegies for the dead. We huddle together under the embrace of hope and joy as we gather to celebrate an extraordinary reunion with our ‘lost but found’ compatriots — 39 pupils and seven teachers abducted from schools in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State — whose 56-day ordeal ended last week.
Across ethnic, religious, and political divides, shouts of joy have been echoing through the length and breadth of the nation in thanksgiving to God for the return of the captives who have shown unwavering strength in the face of adversity. These heroes, heroines, and juvenile heroes have emerged, not as mere survivors, but as beacons of resilience and courage. Each of them carries a story of endurance that will inspire generations to come. The deafening silence of their enforced absence has now been shattered by the symphony of their laughter, shrieks of indescribable joy, and the warmth of their embrace.
