From Musa Muhammad Kutama, Calabar
An international commentator, Alhaji Safyanu Jamil Kabo, has expressed concern over the escalating tensions between the United States and Iran, warning that emerging global power dynamics appear to be increasingly directed at the Muslim world.
Kabo, who described himself as a human rights advocate, clarified that his position was not based on sectarian affiliation. “I am not a Shia, but a human rights advocate committed to opposing injustice, oppression, and unlawful killing anywhere in the world. My stance is not about religious affiliation, but about justice,” he said.
He alleged that statements by prominent Western political figures such as Donald Trump and Lindsey Graham reflect broader geopolitical sentiments targeting Muslim-majority nations. He also referenced remarks by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which he interpreted as suggesting a wider confrontation involving the Islamic world, without distinction between Sunni and Shia communities.
Kabo warned that sectarian divisions have made Muslim societies more vulnerable. “Today a Shia scholar may be targeted; tomorrow, a Sunni leader. Division has made Muslims more exposed,” he said.
Citing historical precedents, he argued that major Western interventions in countries such as Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, and Syria have often resulted in prolonged instability and weakened institutions.
However, Kabo also acknowledged internal challenges within Muslim-majority nations, including governance shortcomings, limited investment in education and technology, and lack of unity. He said these factors have contributed to their geopolitical vulnerability.
According to him, some Western powers appear more comfortable with nations perceived as less assertive, while remaining wary of countries such as Turkey and Iran, which he said are pursuing technological growth, defense capacity, and greater global competitiveness.
He concluded that without renewed commitment to justice, discipline, knowledge, and unity, Muslim societies risk continued division and weakness in an increasingly competitive global order.
