The pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has responded to U.S. President Donald Trump’s alleged threat to invade Nigeria under the guise of fighting terrorism. According to Afenifere, the claim is misleading and merely a cover-up for Trump’s dissatisfaction with President Bola Tinubu’s independent policies on national matters.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Jare Ajayi, the group dismissed allegations that the Nigerian government is complicit in attacks on Christians. Ajayi argued that such accusations are part of a calculated attempt to discredit Nigeria internationally. He further emphasized that the true motive behind Trump’s statements is economic — an attempt to pressure Nigeria into buying more U.S. products, particularly weapons, and to counterbalance Nigeria’s growing partnership with China.
“By sounding so harsh, Mr. Trump hopes to get President Tinubu to negotiate with him,” Ajayi said, explaining that America’s discomfort with Nigeria’s new international alliances may be driving its aggressive tone. He also reiterated that Nigeria remains a sovereign nation and that the government is making visible efforts to tackle insecurity, including the recent changes in military leadership.
Ajayi added that the narrative of religious genocide in Nigeria is exaggerated. “Bandits and terrorists do not target Christians alone,” he clarified, noting that most attacks are economically motivated. He alleged that some international actors sponsor chaos in mineral-rich regions to exploit the resources once locals are displaced.
The spokesman also cautioned Nigerians to avoid statements that could justify external interference. “When you deride your country, it’s not easy to undo the damage,” he warned, urging citizens to be patriotic and constructive in their criticism. He stressed that threatening a sovereign nation with war only worsens insecurity instead of solving it.
Meanwhile, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has called on Nigerians to unite in defense of the country against external threats. Speaking through his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, at the launch of the APC e-registration initiative in Lagos, he insisted that national assets — like the Dangote Refinery — must be protected from any form of foreign aggression.
0“Our President is taking the right steps,” Sanwo-Olu said. “We should stand by him and defend our government. They are doing the right things, and as we do so, God will continue to be with us.”
The development adds another layer to the ongoing diplomatic tension, raising questions about how far foreign influence can shape Nigeria’s domestic affairs — and how Nigeria will assert its independence in the face of global pressure.
