The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike, has declared that US President Donald Trump’s recent call for intervention to “save Nigerian democracy” constitutes a threat to national security.
Minister Wike made this statement on Wednesday while receiving the leadership of the South-South Development Commission (SSDC), led by its Chairman, Prince Chibudom Nwuche, and the Director-General, Mrs. Usoro Akpabio, in Abuja.
Wike’s comments were in direct reference to a statement made by the chairman of a faction of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Tanimu Turaki, who had appeared on national television to claim that Christians were facing genocide in Nigeria and that the country’s democracy required foreign intervention to survive.
Wike described Turaki’s statements as “dangerous and irresponsible political rhetoric”, linking the call for foreign aid to the failure to maintain internal political order.
“Look what someone said yesterday. You have internal crises in your own party, but you go on national television claiming that there is genocide against Christians. Basically, you are telling the world that this government is committing genocide.
“This is a threat to national security. Some are even calling on Trump to ‘save your democracy.'” How can you call a stranger to save you when you can’t obey a simple court order? You can’t keep your house in order and then blame others for your failures. Impunity cannot continue,” Wike said.
The Minister also shared his own experiences with political pressure, noting: “I know the battles I face in the FCT. Every day there are attacks from the left, right and centre… But I will not give up. I will continue to do the right thing.”
He urged the leadership of the newly created SSDC to work together, resist political pressure and remain fully loyal to President Bola Tinubu who gave them their appointments. He advised them to maintain discipline, fiscal responsibility and unconditional loyalty to the president.
In response, the Director General of the SSDC, Mrs Akpabio, assured the Minister that the commission is committed to strengthening institutional linkages and “will deepen collaboration with federal MDAs and key stakeholders to ensure that the South South remains at the forefront of policy implementation and development planning.”