The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has cautioned former United States President Donald Trump and the American government against interfering in Nigeria’s internal affairs under the pretext of promoting religious freedom.
In a statement on Monday, SDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Rufus Aiyenigba, criticised Trump’s recent designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged religious persecution, saying such actions threaten the nation’s sovereignty.
“The SDP, as a national political party that promotes Nigeria’s true interests, is deeply worried about these developments that border on threats to our sovereignty,” Aiyenigba said.
While acknowledging that Nigeria’s worsening insecurity had drawn global concern, the party insisted that no foreign power had the right to meddle in the country’s domestic affairs.
The SDP argued that if the U.S. was genuinely concerned about Nigeria’s security challenges, it should provide intelligence and military support similar to its assistance to Israel, Egypt, and Pakistan, rather than issuing political warnings.
“If the United States is that concerned about the insecurity and killings in Nigeria, it should offer concrete military and intelligence collaboration like it does with its allies, including Israel and Egypt,” the statement read.
The party also accused Western powers of double standards, warning that any U.S. military intervention could lead to chaos similar to the aftermath of foreign involvement in Iraq, Libya, and Afghanistan.
“President Trump or any other foreign leader cannot love Nigeria more than Nigerians love themselves,” Aiyenigba stressed. “History has shown that such interventions end in sorrow, tears, and blood.”
The SDP urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to focus on addressing insecurity and improving the welfare of citizens instead of prioritising political calculations ahead of the 2027 elections.
“The task of securing the lives of Nigerians, irrespective of religion or tribe, is more important than the 2027 elections,” the party stated. “The President must prioritise national security and the well-being of citizens in the remainder of his mandate.”
