The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has said that the recent accusation of genocide against Christians in Nigeria—made by U.S. President Donald Trump—reflects the Nigerian government’s failure to safeguard its citizens.
President Trump, in a statement on Saturday, alleged that Christianity is “facing an existential threat” in Nigeria and revealed that he had directed the Pentagon to develop potential military response plans. He warned that if Nigeria failed to halt ongoing killings, the United States would intervene militarily, declaring any such response would be “fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians.”
Speaking again on Sunday aboard Air Force One, Trump doubled down on his threat. Asked whether he was considering troop deployment or airstrikes, he responded, “Could be, I envisage a lot of things.”
His comments have since triggered intense political and diplomatic reactions worldwide.
Reacting during an interview, ADC spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi said the federal government must take full responsibility for its lapses in securing lives and property.
“If we prove incapable of understanding the enormity of the crises that we face as a country, and other people use that opportunity to kick us around, we should look for balm, rub it, and face what matters,” he said.
Abdullahi—who formerly served as National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC)—criticised the ruling party for what he described as poor handling of Nigeria’s security challenges. He accused the administration of denial, recalling past attempts by government officials to dismiss warnings about the killing of Christians.
He urged the federal government to acknowledge its shortcomings over the last two years and reassure both Nigerians and the international community of its commitment to ending the crisis.
“This situation requires one thing—humility from the government,” he stated. “To acknowledge that whatever we have done in the last two years appears not to be working, and for the Nigerian government to bend down and do the real work of protecting Nigerians.
“When you prove capable of protecting your own people—whether Christians or Muslims—nobody will feel the need to say, ‘If you can’t fix your problem, we will fix it for you.’”
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