Cleric Blames Tinubu’s Troubles with Trump on Economic Reforms and Systemic Failures

President Donald Trump’s invasion language against Nigeria, according to Amidu Sanni, is “the misadventure of a reckless outburst,” while Bola Tinubu, the country’s leader, encouraged the unrest.

This was stated by Mr. Sanni, the former chief imam of Lagos State University, during an interview conducted in Lagos on Sunday. However, the cleric stressed that if the government moved quickly, the looming invasion could be avoided.

Nigeria was been reclassified by the Trump administration as a “country of particular concern.” Mr. Sanni pointed out that it was ironic to suddenly become a human rights activist while disregarding the atrocities in Sudan or Gaza.

The preacher noted, “The sleepless nights being ‘enjoyed’ or suffered by the Nigerian government are self-inflicted; they are the result of systemic failure.”

He claims that inadequate international relations and a disorganized security architecture are among the problems.

They also include mischievous or ignorant interpretations by local and foreign non-state players, he continued, as well as inadequate media involvement by state actors both domestically and globally. He continued by saying that people of all faiths had died as a result of the widespread, mindless murders that have plagued Nigeria over the years, particularly since the Boko Haram attack in 2000.

Since the country’s restoration to democracy in 1999, Mr. Sanni has blamed the systemic shortcomings of successive civilian administrations for their failure to solve security, political, and economic issues, which he claimed were the cause of the nationwide killings.

He pointed out that banditry, kidnapping, illicit mining, misappropriation of security funding, and impunity for criminals have all been exacerbated by state and non-state actors’ inability to address security issues.

“In light of the economic reforms being pushed by the Nigerian government in the oil and financial sectors, it is appropriate to see Trump becoming more Catholic than the Pope, or more Anglican/Protestant than the Archbishop of Canterbury,” he stated.

“These reforms are dislodging the American and Western stranglehold on our economy and denying free petrodollars and unearned foreign exchange to the round-tripping bourgeoisie who had hitherto enjoyed free funds and influence,” the cleric continued.

Trump’s declared threat of conflict is purely political and economic in nature. Regretfully, it appears that some of our religious thought leaders support Trump’s suicidal and selfish military or missionary mishap. Many people are unaware that the focus of war is not on who is correct but rather on who survives the brutal battles.

He also denounced the government’s diplomatic failings, pointing out that nearly three years into the present administration, Nigeria has not yet appointed meaningful ambassadors to important international capitals.

“It is unacceptable that the president has not fully utilized international platforms like the UN General Assembly and the G20 to tell Nigeria’s true story and rebrand our economic and political profiles,” he declared.

However, Mr. Sanni criticized the government’s media approach, pointing out that it has not institutionalized regular presidential parleys with domestic and foreign media, which he said has exacerbated false information about the nation.

He called on the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and the Christian Association of Nigeria to work together to demonstrate to the world that Muslims and Christians in the nation are unified in their opposition to all human rights violations.