By Peter Dansu The pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, has claimed that U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent threat to inva...
By Peter Dansu
The pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, has claimed that U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent threat to invade Nigeria under the guise of fighting terrorism is nothing more than a smokescreen to express his frustration with President Bola Tinubu’s policies and growing independence on global issues.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Jare Ajayi, Afenifere dismissed Trump’s accusation that the Nigerian government was complicit in the killing of Christians by bandits. The group described the claim as “baseless and malicious,” likening it to “giving a dog a bad name to justify killing it.”
Ajayi argued that Trump’s outburst was driven mainly by economic interests, not humanitarian concerns.
“By sounding so aggressive, President Trump hopes to pressure President Tinubu into negotiations that would grant the U.S. deeper access to Nigeria’s economy and possibly compel the country to buy more American products—especially weapons,” Ajayi said.
“Nigeria’s recent economic engagement with China has not sat well with Washington, and that is part of the reason for this sudden hostility.”
Afenifere also suggested that certain interest groups in the United States are uncomfortable with what they see as Tinubu’s firm and independent stance on key international matters.
Ajayi reminded the U.S. that Nigeria is a sovereign nation and that its internal security challenges are being addressed by the government.
“The federal government is not asleep. The recent reshuffling of security chiefs is part of the effort to strengthen the country’s security architecture. While there’s room for improvement, progress is being made,” he noted.
On the issue of alleged genocide against Christians, Afenifere maintained that such claims are exaggerated and misleading.
“The truth is that terrorists and bandits in Nigeria don’t discriminate. Their primary goal is economic control. Those financing them are after the mineral resources beneath the affected communities. Once people are displaced, these sponsors move in to exploit the resources,” Ajayi explained.
He further criticized Trump’s decision to rename the U.S. Department of Defense to the “Department of War,” describing it as a reflection of an aggressive foreign policy stance.
“Nigerians must avoid statements or actions that could give war-mongers any justification to turn our land into another conflict zone,” he cautioned.
Ajayi concluded by urging Nigerians to speak responsibly about their country, especially on the global stage.
“When we tear down our own country, the damage can be difficult to repair. Nigeria indeed needs international support to overcome its security challenges, but threats of invasion or war will only worsen the situation,” he said.
Afenifere’s statement comes amid growing global attention to Nigeria’s security issues and the country’s expanding diplomatic and economic relations beyond traditional Western partners.
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