Why Did President Trump Call Nigeria A “Disgraced Country?” (Part 1)

BENEDICT AHANONU

“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, (worth USD 1.1b) 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,” Trump posted on social media.

That President Donald Trump in his latest vitriolic but frank statement, referred to Nigeria as a “Disgraced Country,” is no longer news but the implications resonate.

Honestly, as a patriotic Nigerian, I was rattled at first but after some introspection, I discovered why Trump made such demeaning and hurtful remarks.

Ever Since then though, there has been a surge of reactions and comments by Nigerians especially from within the political class, retired generals – that stole and misappropriated funds meant for the war on terror and the parasitic sycophants, who always want to cash in on any sycophantic opportunity to be relevant.

Let me clarify that President Trump never said he will invade Nigeria – rather, he said he will come after the Islamic terrorists that have committed and still committing the outrageous Christian genocide in Nigeria – so why is China making wrong and impulsive remarks? China – the copycat of this world is no match for America in terms of credibility. China is notorious for religious intolerance and boasts of terrible human rights records, hence should not be taken seriously.

According to Britannica, genocide, is the deliberate and systematic destruction of a group of people because of their ethnicity, nationality, religion, or race. Now the question: Is there Christian Genocide in Nigeria? The answer is Yes as facts and realities on the ground affirm – therefore the disgusting and pretentious umbrage at Trump by some self-seeking Nigerians, with the aim of currying favour and gaining the recognition of President Tinubu, is useless and inconsequential.

Figures don’t lie: Since 201O, over 50, 000 Christians have been murdered in Nigeria – this is calculated genocide – it is a brutal reality.

While some will come up with the false claim that more Muslims than Christians have been killed since 2009; however, the pertinent question remains: who are those committing the atrocities?

In the northern part of Nigeria, there seems to be an unwritten government policy to wipe out Christians or how can one explain the situation where immediately a Muslim is in charge of government in any state in the north, the agenda will be promotion of Islam through financing of Islamic extremism and deliberate plot to Islamize the whole citizens. Policies are drafted to deny non-Muslims rights as citizens even as these state governments engage in propaganda against Christians. In many states, people have been forced to convert to Islam to get benefits or be accepted.

The Kerekere and Bolawa people of Potiskum, were initially Christians, but now most of them have been forced to convert to Islam. It is the same with the people of Gwoza in Borno State. The Gamargu and Mandara people of Borno, were initially animists and Christians, now, most of them have been forced to convert to Islam by the state that deny them opportunities except they accept Islam. This is widespread in the north where Muslims control any state.

Even before Boko Haram and the crisis in Plateau State, there was a terrorist attack on the headquarters of Evangelical Church Winning All (previously known as Evangelical Church of West Africa, ECWA, founded in 1954), near Brema Primary School in Potiskum, Yobe State.

There was also the Zango-Kataf crisis where Muslims were claiming to be owners of the land. We all remember the brutal attack on the Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, not forgetting the stoning of Deborah Samuel Yakubu to death in Sokoto, killing of Gideon Akalauka from Imo State in Kano, kidnap of Chibok School Girls – who were mainly Christians and the endless genocidal attacks on Christian Communities in Kaduna, Kebbi, Taraba, Adamawa, Plateau, Bauchi, Benue, Enugu, Imo, Ebonyi and Anambra States etc – wrongly designated as herder – farmer conflicts, the list is endless

I pity President Tinubu because he is clearly overwhelmed by the immensity and intensity of the menace of jihadists/terrorists brought upon Nigeria by former President Buhari – now late, with his many disastrous policies including visa – on – arrival policy, which has been replaced by an e-visa system.

President Tinubu should as a matter of urgent importance stop negotiating with terrorists because that projects him as a weak leader.

Truth is that the only language these terrorists understand is violence and force hence, until very tough actions are taken against them, the ugly situation will linger on.

The other wrong step taken by the federal government of Nigeria is the massive recruitment of the so-called “repentant terrorists” into the armed forces – as they now work from within the armed forces as moles, sabotaging genuine efforts by revealing secrets, planned operations and movement of troops to their active members.

That Buhari adamantly refused to label Boko Haram operatives and others as terrorists but was quick to label the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, as a terrorist organization is the height of hypocrisy, bigotry, wickedness, insensitivity, biased and failed leadership – the consequence is what Nigeria is contending with today.

To those sudden nationalists that pretend to love Tinubu and Nigeria more than their stomachs, I say shame on you because you have been deaf and dumb all this while but the moment President Donald Trump took the initiative, your dirty tongues began to wag.

My advice to President Tinubu is that he should apply caution and approach President Donald Trump with sound wisdom, diplomatic tact and not infuriating rhetoric or muscle flexing because Trump can be erratic but the solution is simple – partner with the United States to solve this problem – it will be a win-win situation and it can be done.

President Tinubu should ignore the misleading narratives and utterances of devious sycophants – whose zealousness border on treachery. He should do the needful by taking tough actions that will put a stop to this long-drawn-out menace of terrorism by a group of people that are determined to take Nigeria back to the primitive Stone Age.

The reason is that if, GOD forbid, Tinubu should fail, the same “overzealous sycophants,” will still castigate him.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should therefore prove to the world that he is a strong leader now by identifying and dealing mercilessly with all the enemies of Nigeria hiding in the cloak of religion or other forms – drastic times call for drastic measures and such will send a clear message to the world and the enemies of decency, civilization and humanity that Nigeria is not a Disgraced Country – this is a clarion call, it is possible, history is recording and such will be the effective game changer.

GOD bless Nigeria!

I’m Prince Ben AHANONU

(With Intellectual Swagger that doesn’t Stagger).