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Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has said massive defence spending alone cannot guarantee security, citing Saudi Arabia’s $83 billion military expenditure which has reportedly failed to shield it from Houthi attacks.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, the Kaduna-based cleric referenced a CNN analysis titled “Why billions spent on defense haven’t shielded Saudi Arabia from Houthi attacks.”
The report stated that despite spending $83 billion on defence last year, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, the kingdom has struggled to protect airports, refineries and pipelines.
“If just $10 billion is spent on the social welfare of these mountainous rebellious neighboring population, they will not have the morality to fight them. Rather, they were bombed for decades resulting in irretractable enmity,” Gumi said.
He likened the situation to Nigeria’s security approach, recalling that during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, Nigeria purchased 12 A-29 Super Tucano fighter aircraft from the United States for approximately $496.37 million, about N151.39 billion at the time.
He further cited Amnesty International’s 2023 human-rights agenda which reported that the Nigerian Air Force had carried out at least 17 fatal airstrikes on civilian settlements since July 2019.
“If this colossal amount of money is used to improve the living conditions of these people, it will yield better results,” Gumi argued.
The cleric quoted Qur’an 41:34, Surah Fussilat, which he said teaches that responding to wrongdoing with kindness, patience, forgiveness and good behaviour can transform enmity into friendship.
“Good and evil are not equal. Allah teaches us to respond to wrongdoing with kindness, patience, forgiveness, and good behaviour rather than revenge. By treating someone who is hostile towards us with goodness, we may soften their heart and turn an enemy into a close and loving friend,” he added.
