ABUJA, NIGERIA — Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has issued a sharp pushback against statements by U.S. President Donald Trump, who threatened possible military action in Nigeria and a halt to U.S. aid over alleged persecution of Christians.
President Trump, in a social media post, accused the Nigerian government of failing to stop the "mass slaughter" of Christians by "radical Islamists" and instructed his administration to prepare for possible intervention, warning the U.S. could go into the "now disgraced country, 'guns-a-blazing.'"
Tinubu's Statement: 'Not a Religiously Intolerant Country'
In an official statement, President Tinubu strongly rejected the U.S. President's characterisation of the West African nation.3
Rejection of Intolerance Label: "The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality, nor does it take into consideration the consistent and sincere efforts of the government to safeguard freedom of religion and beliefs for all Nigerians," President Tinubu said.
Defense of Religious Freedom: He reaffirmed that "Religious freedom and tolerance have been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so. Nigeria opposes religious persecution and does not encourage it."
Constitutional Guarantees: The President stressed that Nigeria is a country with "constitutional guarantees to protect citizens of all faiths."
Nigeria Welcomes Assistance, But Respect for Sovereignty is Key
While pushing back on the claims of religious intolerance, an adviser to President Tinubu, Daniel Bwala, also provided a cautious diplomatic response regarding the offer of assistance.
"We welcome US assistance as long as it recognises our territorial integrity," Mr. Bwala told Reuters, signaling that any cooperation must respect Nigeria's sovereignty.
The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs further reinforced the country's position, vowing to keep fighting violent extremism and expressing hope that Washington would remain a close ally.
Congressional Involvement and International Reaction
President Trump's threat came after his administration designated Nigeria as a "Country of Particular Concern" (CPC) for allegedly failing to rein in the persecution of Christians.12
.Nigerian Senate to Meet with Executive: The Nigerian Senate announced it would meet with the executive arm to deliberate on the diplomatic tension and coordinate a harmonized national response.13 Senate President Godswill Akpabio stated that the U.S. position appeared to be based on outdated intelligence and insisted Nigeria's insecurity affects citizens regardless of faith.
. International Support: Global bodies like the European Union (EU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) backed Nigeria, cautioning against actions that would undermine the country's sovereignty and noting that the complex violence in the region targets people of all faiths.
. diplomatic standoff continues as both nations navigate a period of strained relations, with Nigeria insisting its security challenges are multifaceted and not solely defined by religious persecution.
The Sunday Circle