Group Faults Trump’s Claim On Nigeria

BOLU-OLU ESHO

A socio-political organisation, Yoruba Ronu Group, has faulted American President Donald Trump’s claim that only Christians were being killed by the Boko Haram insurgents in Nigeria.

In a statement by the Chairman of the group, Prince Diran Iyantan, made available to journalists in Akure on Monday, described the claim of President Trump as deceitful.

Condemning the threat by the United States of America’s President, Iyantan described the statement as “reckless and deceitful.”

He said Trump’s “utterances are not only false but deliberately provocative, aimed at destabilising Nigeria for his own selfish geopolitical and economic motives.”

The statement reads: “Let it be clear: there is no state-sponsored killing of Christians in Nigeria. The victims of terrorism are Nigerians of all faiths, targeted by the same extremist insurgents.

“President Trump’s attempt to twist this national tragedy into a religious persecution narrative is malicious, divisive, and unbecoming of a leader who once claimed to stand for truth.

“If Trump is genuinely concerned about Nigerian Christians, then where is his outcry for Christians in Syria, Ukraine, or the Congo, who face far graver suffering and persecution? His selective empathy exposes the hollowness of this so-called concern it is not about faith, but about politics and self-interest.

“President Donald Trump’s actions are nothing but a smokescreen for a greater agenda. His false narrative targets a Nigeria that is gradually recovering from economic challenges through the various reforms implemented by President Bola Tinubu, who deserves the support of Washington as the leader of Africa’s largest economy.

 “Nigeria is a secular nation, founded on religious harmony and mutual respect since independence. Despite immense challenges, our government continues to fight Boko Haram and other extremist groups with determination and sacrifice. What Nigeria needs from the world is partnership, support, dialogue, and understanding, not intimidation, falsehood, or neo-colonial aggression disguised as moral outrage.

“Trump’s warlike tone, including phrases like ‘guns-a-blazing’ and ‘fast, vicious, and sweet,” is not diplomacy; it is incitement. Such reckless language emboldens terrorists, undermines our military gains, and insults the sovereignty of our nation.

“History bears witness that every U.S. ‘intervention,’ from Libya to Afghanistan, has left behind ruins and chaos. Nigeria will not be their next experiment.

“We call on all Nigerians, regardless of religion or region, to reject this veiled assault on our independence. Our unity is our strength, and no foreign power should dictate our destiny.”