The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, on Monday warned that United States President Donald Trump’s threat to launch a military invasion of Nigeria over alleged Christian genocide should alarm every Nigerian.
Obi made the statement in a post on X, two days after Trump declared that if Nigeria failed to halt the killings, the United States would strike — “fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our cherished Christians.”
In a fiery message on his Truth Social platform on Saturday, President Trump said he had instructed the Pentagon to draft a possible attack plan for Nigeria, a day after warning that Christianity faced “an existential threat” in Africa’s most populous nation.
Obi also voiced grave concern over Trump’s designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC), urging diplomatic engagement between both countries.
“The recent declaration by the US government naming Nigeria a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ (CPC) and hinting at possible military action should deeply worry every well-meaning Nigerian,” Obi stated.
He noted that Nigeria was witnessing “an unprecedented wave of insecurity, carnage, and shocking loss of lives and property.” Citing Amnesty International, Obi said more than 10,000 people had been killed in Nigeria since May 2023.
He lamented that the “unwarranted and unprovoked killings of Nigerians” were utterly condemnable and avoidable with competent leadership.
“Although the insecurity did not begin with the current administration, the absence of competence, commitment, patriotism, and prudent resource management by the APC-led government has worsened the crisis,” he said. “Nigeria needs leadership capable of governing effectively and fostering peace, truth, and justice.”
Obi further stressed the need to preserve Nigeria–US relations: “As democracies, Nigeria and the United States have long been strategic partners committed to regional peace and security. That relationship must not collapse. The situation calls for constructive diplomacy and cooperative engagement between both nations to tackle the disturbing security challenges swiftly and decisively.”