Presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in the 2023 elections, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has urged the United States of America (USA) to assist Nigeria with advanced technology in combating insecurity instead of issuing threats that could further divide the nation.
Kwankwaso made this appeal in a statement shared via his X (formerly Twitter) account on Sunday, following U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent comments describing Nigeria as a country of particular concern over alleged persecution of Christians.
Trump, in a post on his Truth Social platform on Friday, alleged that Christianity in Nigeria faces “an existential threat,” claiming that thousands of Christians have been killed by “radical Islamists.” He went further to threaten military intervention, saying:
“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria and may very well go into that now disgraced country, guns-a-blazing, to completely wipe out the Islamic terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.”
In response, Kwankwaso cautioned that such threats could worsen the situation, urging the U.S. to instead provide cutting-edge security technologies to help Nigeria tackle terrorism, banditry, and other security challenges.
“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,” the former Kano State governor stated.
He emphasised that Nigeria remains a sovereign nation facing multifaceted security challenges that cut across religious, ethnic, and political lines. According to him, insecurity in the country affects both Christians and Muslims alike and should not be framed as a religious conflict.
Kwankwaso also advised the Federal Government to strengthen diplomatic channels by appointing special envoys and permanent ambassadors to engage with the American government and represent Nigeria’s interests globally. He called on citizens to prioritize unity and peace during this tense period.
“This is an important moment where we should emphasise unity of belonging over division,” he added.
Meanwhile, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has dismissed the claims of Christian genocide, insisting that Nigeria remains committed to religious freedom and tolerance.
In a statement signed by the president, Tinubu said,
“The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality, nor does it recognise government efforts to safeguard freedom of religion and belief. Nigeria stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty.”
Kwankwaso’s remarks come amid growing international scrutiny over Nigeria’s security situation, with the former defence minister urging collaboration and diplomacy rather than hostile rhetoric to address the country’s internal challenges.
