Killings: Give Military Support, Not Invade Nigeria, SDP tells Trump
The Social Democratic Party on Monday warned US President Donald Trump and the American government against any attempt to interfere in Nigeria’s internal affairs under the guise of religious freedom or humanitarian intervention. Instead, the party urged Washington to offer military and intelligence assistance if it is truly concerned about the killings in the country. The warning came through the SDP National Publicity Secretary, Rufus Aiyenigba, following Trump’s recent statement designating Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged religious persecution. The designation has triggered fresh diplomatic tensions between Abuja and Washington. In its reaction, the SDP declared that while Nigeria’s security failures were undeniable, its sovereignty remained “non-negotiable.” “The SDP, as a national political party that promotes the true interest of Nigeria, is greatly worried by the prevailing discomfiting development and discourses that bother on seeming threats to the sovereignty of the country,” Aiyenigba said in the statement. The party lamented that the “underwhelming performance” of Nigeria’s security architecture had made the country a subject of international concern. Aiyenigba, however, emphasised that foreign powers must respect the limits of the United Nations Charter and refrain from actions that could amount to aggression. “If the United States is that concerned about the insecurity and killings in Nigeria, it should offer concrete military support and intelligence collaboration to Nigeria like it is doing to its other allies, including Israel, Egypt, Pakistan, and others,” the statement added. The SDP further cautioned that President Trump or any other foreign leader “cannot love Nigeria more than Nigerians love themselves,” warning that any U.S. military incursion could end in “sorrow, tears, and blood,” similar to the aftermath of interventions in Iraq, Libya, and Afghanistan. The party also called on President Bola Tinubu to focus on his constitutional duty to secure lives and property rather than political calculations ahead of the 2027 general election. “The task of securing the lives of Nigerians irrespective of their religions and tribes is more important than considerations for the 2027 general election “The President therefore needs to prioritise national security and the betterment of the lives of Nigerians in the remainder of his mandate,” it said.