Rabiu Kwankwaso, former governor of Kano State and 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has called on the United States to assist Nigeria with advanced technologies to combat insecurity, rather than threatening military action.
In a post on his X account on Sunday evening, Kwankwaso said, “The United States should assist Nigerian authorities with better cutting-edge technology to tackle these problems, rather than posing a threat that could further polarise our country.”
His remarks followed U.S. President Donald Trump’s declaration of Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” over alleged killings of Christians.
Trump, in a post on his Truth Social platform on Friday, claimed, “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter.”
Trump later threatened potential military intervention if the Nigerian government failed to act, warning that US forces could enter Nigeria “guns-a-blazing” to eliminate the perpetrators.
Kwankwaso emphasized the importance of diplomacy, noting that insecurity in Nigeria affects all citizens, regardless of religion, ethnicity, or political affiliation.
“It is important to emphasise that our country is a sovereign nation whose people face different threats from outlaws across the country. The insecurity we face does not distinguish based on religious, ethnic, or political beliefs,” he wrote.
He further advised the Nigerian government to appoint special envoys to engage the U.S administration and ensure Nigeria’s interests are represented on the international stage. Kwankwaso also urged Nigerians to prioritize unity over division during this critical moment.
Meanwhile, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has dismissed the claim of a Christian genocide, reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to religious freedom.
In a statement, 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.”
