Kwankwaso To Trump: Your Threat Could Further Polarise Nigeria

By Adesina Soyooye

A former Minister for Defence, Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso has weighed in on the threat by President Donald Trump of the United States of America to militarily intervene in what he says is a genocide on Christians in Nigeria.

President Trump had on Friday, October 31, declared Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over the alleged genocide on Christians. He followed that up on Saturday by, strongly, warning the Nigerian Government to immediately stop the killings of Christians or that the US would intervene to clear the terrorists killing Christians.

The Nigerian Government in three responses, one of them personally signed by President Bola Tinubu, has denied any such genocide targeted at Christians, and explained that the insecurity in Nigeria has nothing to do with Religion and that adherents of both Religions – Christians and Muslims – as well as others, are targets of blood-thirsty terrorists.

Kwankwaso, a two-term Governor of Kano State, 2023 Presidential Candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP, and leader of Kwankwasiyya movement, expressed concern over Trump’s  comments about Nigeria.

In a post on his Facebook page Sunday, he wrote:

“I have noted with increasing concern the heightened pronouncements on Nigeria by President Donald Trump. This follows his designation of Nigeria as a ‘country of particular concern.

“Nigeria is a sovereign nation facing security challenges caused by outlaws, not by religion or ethnicity.

“The insecurity we face does not distinguish based on religious, ethnic, or political beliefs.

“I urge the United States to support Nigeria with modern technology to fight insecurity instead of issuing threats.

“The United States should assist the Nigerian authorities with better cutting-edge technology to tackle these problems, rather than posing a threat that could further polarise our country.”

Kwankwaso also called on  the Federal government to engage, diplomatically with the US.

Recall that since 2023 when President Tinubu recalled Nigeria’s Ambassadors and High Commissioners from around the World, he has not replaced them.

In this regard, Kwankwaso advised that: “The Nigerian government should also consider appointing special envoys from its distinguished diplomats to engage the American government. Additionally, it is necessary to appoint permanent ambassadors to represent Nigeria’s interests on the international stage.”

And a word to Nigerians:  to “To my fellow countrymen, this is an important moment where we should emphasise unity of belonging over division. God bless Nigeria.”