Trump’s threat: Let’s unite above partisanship, defend our nation — Presidency urges opposition leaders
The President Bola Tinubu-led administration has referred to as on opposition leaders to rise above partisanship and defend Nigeria’s sovereignty.
The presidency lauded former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, after he criticised United States President Donald Trump’s controversial remarks threatening potential navy motion in Nigeria over alleged persecution of Christians.
In a present of bipartisan alignment, the Presidency, by its Particular Adviser on Info and Technique, Bayo Onanuga, backed Kwankwaso for his “patriotism” and urged different opposition leaders to rise above partisanship and defend the nation’s sovereignty within the face of what it described as “exterior provocation.”
Onanuga, responding through his official X (previously Twitter) deal with, wrote, “Thanks Senator Kwankwaso on your patriotism. This can be a time for all political leaders, throughout the divide, to unite behind our nation and communicate out, as patriots.”
His remark got here shortly after Kwankwaso issued a strongly-worded assertion condemning Trump’s newest determination to redesignate Nigeria as a “nation of specific concern”, a label the previous U.S. president stated was linked to alleged “genocide towards Christians” in Nigeria.
Kwankwaso, the 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Occasion warned that Trump’s rhetoric might inflame spiritual divisions and worsen insecurity.
In his assertion posted on X, the previous governor wrote, “I’ve famous with growing concern the heightened pronouncements on Nigeria by President Donald Trump. This follows his designation of Nigeria as a ‘nation of specific concern.’ You will need to emphasise that our nation is a sovereign nation whose folks face totally different threats from outlaws throughout the nation. The insecurity we face doesn’t distinguish based mostly on spiritual, ethnic, or political views.
“America ought to help the Nigerian authorities with higher cutting-edge know-how to deal with these issues, reasonably than posing a threat that might additional polarise our nation. The Nigerian authorities also needs to take into account appointing particular envoys from its distinguished diplomats to have interaction the American authorities. Moreover, it’s essential to appoint everlasting ambassadors to signify Nigeria’s pursuits on the worldwide stage.
“To my fellow countrymen, this is a vital second the place we must always emphasise unity of belonging over division. God bless Nigeria.”
Kwankwaso’s assertion comes after Trump, in a collection of posts on his Fact Social platform, vowed that the U.S. navy was “making ready for potential motion in Nigeria” if the Tinubu administration fails to guard Christians.
“The killing of harmless Christians in Nigeria, and wherever, should finish instantly,” Trump declared.
“Both the Nigerian Authorities protects Christians, or we are going to kill the Islamic terrorists who’re committing these horrible atrocities.”
He additional claimed that the U.S. Division of Battle, led by Secretary Pete Hegseth, was “able to go in, weapons blazing,” if crucial.
The Nigerian authorities has, nonetheless, dismissed Trump’s claims as “reckless and deceptive,” insisting that there isn’t a state-sponsored persecution of Christians within the nation.
In the meantime, opposition figures have expressed combined reactions to the event.
The Social Democratic Occasion warned former United States President, Donald Trump, and the American authorities towards any try to intervene in Nigeria’s inner affairs below the guise of selling spiritual freedom.
The occasion stated if Trump was genuinely involved in regards to the killings and insecurity in Nigeria, he ought to present navy and intelligence assist reasonably than making political declarations that undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty.
The warning, contained in an announcement issued on Monday by SDP’s Nationwide Publicity Secretary, Rufus Aiyenigba, got here in response to Trump’s latest designation of Nigeria as a “Nation of Explicit Concern” over alleged spiritual persecution — a transfer that has stirred recent diplomatic tensions between Abuja and Washington.
“The SDP, as a nationwide political occasion that promotes the true curiosity of Nigeria, is enormously anxious by the prevailing discomfiting improvement and discourses that trouble on seeming threats to the sovereignty of the nation,” Aiyenigba stated.
He admitted that Nigeria’s worsening insecurity had attracted international consideration however insisted that no international energy had the best to meddle within the nation’s home points.
In keeping with the occasion, the “underwhelming efficiency” of Nigeria’s safety structure was chargeable for the rising worldwide concern, however such failures mustn’t turn into an excuse for international interference.
“If the US is that involved in regards to the insecurity and killings in Nigeria, it ought to supply concrete navy assist and intelligence collaboration to Nigeria like it’s doing to its different allies, together with Israel, Egypt, Pakistan, and others,” the assertion added.
The SDP additionally accused Western powers of double requirements, warning that any U.S. navy or political incursion might result in catastrophe much like what occurred in Iraq, Libya, and Afghanistan.
“President Trump or every other international chief can’t love Nigeria greater than Nigerians love themselves,” Aiyenigba acknowledged. “Historical past has proven that such so-called interventions finish in sorrow, tears, and blood.”
The occasion urged President Bola Tinubu to show management by tackling insecurity head-on reasonably than specializing in political calculations forward of the 2027 common election.
“The duty of securing the lives of Nigerians no matter their religions and tribes is extra necessary than concerns for the 2027 common election,” the SDP stated. “The President due to this fact must prioritise nationwide safety and the betterment of the lives of Nigerians within the the rest of his mandate.”
For the presidential candidate of the Labour Occasion within the 2023 common election, Peter Obi, diplomatic engagement between Nigeria and the US ought to be adopted.
In an announcement posted on his verified X account on Monday, Obi stated the U.S. authorities’s designation of Nigeria as a “Nation of Explicit Concern” and Trump’s accompanying remarks ought to be a supply of fear to each well-meaning Nigerian.
“The latest pronouncement by the US authorities declaring Nigeria a ‘Nation of Explicit Concern’ and indicating potential navy motion ought to give each well-meaning Nigerian severe concern,” Obi stated.
He described the present safety scenario within the nation as “unprecedented,” noting that greater than 10,000 Nigerians have been killed since Might 2023, citing figures from Amnesty Worldwide.
He condemned the rising violence, which he stated mirrored the federal government’s failure to guard lives and property.
“There is no such thing as a doubt that Nigeria is experiencing an unprecedented stage of insecurity with attendant carnage and essentially the most stunning lack of lives and property,” Obi stated.
The latest pronouncement by the US authorities declaring Nigeria a ‘Nation of Explicit Concern’ and indicating potential navy motion ought to give each well-meaning Nigerian severe concern.
“The unwarranted and unprovoked killing of Nigerians is most condemnable, and all efforts have to be made to deliver it to a cease.”
Whereas acknowledging that the insecurity didn’t start below the present administration, the previous Anambra State governor faulted the All Progressives Congress-led authorities for missing the competence, patriotism, and dedication to handle the disaster.
“What’s most unlucky is the shortage and absence of competence, dedication, prudent use of sources, patriotism and keenness on the a part of APC-led authorities and its leaders to successfully govern and lead Nigeria,” he acknowledged.
Obi, nonetheless, cautioned towards any type of navy intervention by the U.S., urging each nations to work collectively by diplomacy and partnership.
“As democracies, Nigeria and the US have lengthy been strategic companions dedicated to regional peace and safety. That relationship mustn’t falter.
“The current scenario requires constructive diplomatic engagement by each nations geared toward addressing the prevailing safety issues,” he stated.
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, of the Peoples Democratic Occasion, has charged the Federal Authorities of Nigeria to see the navy motion threat issued by the President of the US of America as a wake-up name for a renewed combat towards insecurity within the nation.
Additionally, the governor referred to as for renewed diplomatic engagement between Nigeria and the US following Trump’s feedback.
In an announcement issued on Monday by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Governor Adeleke urged each nations to construct on their longstanding partnership to handle rising safety issues peacefully.
“I enchantment to the Presidency of the US of America to assist Nigeria to completely implement the not too long ago developed nationwide safety technique. The brand new technique is complete and able to taking up the monster of banditry and terroristic killings in lots of components of the nation,” he stated.
The governor commiserated with households of victims affected by insecurity within the northern area, describing the scenario as a nationwide tragedy requiring worldwide cooperation.
In keeping with Adeleke, the latest US place ought to function “a wake-up name to scrupulously implement new safety measures and forceful counter-terrorism actions in partnership with diplomatic allies”.
He emphasised that Nigeria wanted assist from its worldwide companions, notably the US, to beat the continued challenges posed by terrorism and armed violence.
“Nigeria suffers from unlucky killings throughout Northern Nigeria which has claimed lives of many harmless residents. We consider a high-powered engagement on the presidential stage will notably open to the American authorities the continued safety operations, successes and challenges Nigeria is dealing with within the combat towards terrorism,” he famous.
The Osun governor appealed for diplomatic dialogue reasonably than confrontation, stressing that “peaceable interface between Abuja and Washington holds the important thing reasonably than navy intervention by the American authorities.”
Governor Adeleke additionally recommended the Nigerian Presidency for its diplomatic efforts geared toward easing tensions and addressing the real issues raised by Western companions, particularly the US.
He urged political leaders throughout the nation to rally behind the federal authorities’s ongoing efforts to safeguard the nation’s territorial integrity and shield its residents from insecurity.
“That is the time to unite as a nation to assist the nationwide management to frontally deal with inner and exterior threats for the safety of the citizenry,” Adeleke acknowledged.
In the meantime, the Nationwide Safety Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, is at the moment assembly with service chiefs and heads of safety and intelligence businesses in Abuja.
The agenda of the closed-door assembly was not recognized on the time of submitting this report.
The assembly follows reviews alleging that US President Donald Trump issued a directive to organize for potential navy motion in Nigeria.
The US President had threatened to deploy navy forces to Nigeria if the alleged genocide towards Christians was not stopped.
In a submit on his Fact Social platform on Saturday, Trump directed the “Division of Battle” to organize for “potential motion” if the killings continued.
Trump additionally warned that the US would halt all support and help to Nigeria if President Bola Tinubu’s administration failed to finish the alleged persecution and killing of Christians.
“If the Nigerian Authorities continues to permit the killing of Christians, the USA will instantly cease all support and help to Nigeria, and should very effectively go into that now-disgraced nation, ‘guns-a-blazing,’ to fully wipe out the Islamic terrorists who’re committing these horrible atrocities.
“I’m hereby instructing our Division of Battle to organize for potential motion. If we assault, will probably be quick, vicious, and candy, identical to the terrorist thugs assault our cherished Christians,” he wrote.
Ribadu is predicted to temporary newspaper editors and high media executives after the assembly.
Earlier, the Director-Common of the Nationwide Orientation Company, Lanre Issa-Onilu, stated the NSA and the safety chiefs would deal with the media on the threat issued by the U.S. President.
In keeping with him, the briefing will “present sufficient response to the allegations of genocide and replace the media on ongoing authorities efforts to comprise insecurity and different vices.”