Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has described former U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent comments about alleged Christian persecution in Nigeria and his threat of military action as a national embarrassment.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, Falana said Trump’s remarks reflect how badly the Nigerian government has handled the country’s worsening insecurity, including insurgency and widespread kidnapping for ransom.
“Why have we brought this embarrassment to ourselves as a people that we are being treated as a neocolony of the United States of America?” he asked.
“We cannot even challenge Mr Trump. How dare you? Where is this hypocrisy coming from?”
Last week, Trump announced that Nigeria had been designated a “Country of Particular Concern” over what he described as the “mass slaughter of Christians.”
He later warned on his Truth Social page that possible U.S. military action could follow if Nigerian authorities fail to act. He wrote, “If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet. The Nigerian government better move fast.”
The Nigerian federal government has since dismissed Trump’s allegations, describing them as misinformed and exaggerated.
Falana, however, said the controversy should serve as a wake-up call for the government to strengthen its fight against insurgency and criminal violence.
“For us as a people and for the government of Nigeria, we must now take Mr Trump’s warning as a wake-up call,” he said.
“I can see evidence that the government is now giving information to the public and the international community on efforts being made to wage a counter-insurgency operation. We are now being told how many people are being taken to court.”
Falana emphasized that Nigeria must take charge of its internal security and avoid situations that make the country appear weak or dependent on foreign intervention.
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