Comrade Daniel Onjeh, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Chairman of the Governing Board of the Project Development Institute (PRODA), has criticised U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to launch military action against Nigeria over alleged religious persecution, describing it as “dangerous and unnecessary.”
In a statement issued Sunday, Onjeh said Trump’s remarks had sparked concern among Nigerians, not only for their tone but also because they revived old foreign narratives depicting Nigeria as a nation teetering on instability.
“The statement has alarmed many Nigerians, not because it came from President Trump alone, but because there’s a long-standing perception that some external forces always see Nigeria through the lens of instability,” he said.
While acknowledging the reality of insecurity and killings across the country, Onjeh rejected any framing of the crisis as a religious war.
“What we are facing is not a Christian persecution or a Muslim persecution. It is a national assault on every citizen, regardless of faith or background,” he explained.
“Christians have been killed. Muslims have been killed. Traditional worshippers and even those with no religion have also been killed.”
He cautioned that portraying Nigeria’s security problems as religious could deepen mistrust and embolden terrorists.
“Terrorism does not obey religion. It feeds on fear, chaos, and division,” Onjeh said.
The former PRODA chairman also warned against any form of foreign military presence in Nigeria disguised as humanitarian aid.
“There is a clear difference between an intervention and an invasion. Nigeria has not requested foreign troops, and any attempt to deploy external forces on Nigerian soil without the government’s consent would amount to an invasion,” he stated.
Instead, Onjeh urged the U.S. to assist Nigeria through intelligence sharing, counterterrorism training, and modern weapon supplies, rather than threats.
“We need support, not invasion. The United States can help us fight terrorism by exposing its sponsors and allowing us to acquire the weapons required to defend ourselves,” he said.
He called on Nigerians to unite behind President Bola Tinubu in defense of the country’s sovereignty.
“Political disagreements at home must never blind us to the danger of foreign interference. Nigeria is open to friendship and partnership, but will not accept intimidation from any country, no matter how powerful,” he declared.
Onjeh concluded that what Nigeria seeks is “cooperation, not control, and progress, not destabilisation.”
