Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has condemned President Donald Trump’s claims of a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria and his threat of military action, calling the situation an embarrassment caused by Nigeria’s weak security system.
Speaking on Wednesday’s edition of Channels Television’s Politics Today, Falana blamed the federal government’s failure to tackle insecurity, including rampant kidnapping for ransom, for giving room to such external interference.
“A National Disgrace,” Says Falana
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) expressed disappointment over how the country’s image has been dragged into global ridicule.
“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.
He added, “We cannot even challenge Mr Trump, ‘How dare you? Where is this hypocrisy coming from?’”
President Trump had last week labelled Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” over what he described as “mass slaughter of Christians.”
He also warned of possible U.S. military intervention if Nigerian authorities failed to take action swiftly.
“I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action. If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians! WARNING: THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT BETTER MOVE FAST!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
“Time for Nigeria to Wake Up”
Reacting to the controversy, Falana said the situation should be a turning point for Nigeria to confront its internal problems with urgency and sincerity.
“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.”