Professor Wole Soyinka has criticised United States President Donald Trump’s threat to launch military action in Nigeria over what Trump described as “Christian genocide,” dismissing the comments as nothing short of madness.
Recall that Trump had warned of possible military intervention in Nigeria over alleged killings of Christians.
He said: “If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing,’ to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.”
Responding to journalists’ questions on the matter in Makurdi, Soyinka condemned the statement, saying: “You don’t just open your mouth and say, ‘I’m coming to help you whether you like it or not.’”
He criticised what he described as Trump’s shallow assessment of Nigeria’s security crisis.
“With poor, almost non-existent analysis of the complexities of where the problem is. And you say you are coming ‘guns a-blazing’.”
He continued: “‘And when we come in it’s going to be fast, vicious and swift’. Is that the language of somebody whose head is correct? What else do you want me to say?”
Soyinka further stressed that accepting help does not mean accepting recklessness. “Because I’m ill or have difficulties does not mean I should accept aid from a mad man. You cannot just open your mouth and say you’re coming to help someone with violence, without any real analysis of where the problem started.”
He added that while government must ensure citizens’ welfare, it must also handle crises with respect for victims and those working to resolve the situation. “Any government has an obligation to ensure the welfare of citizens. But, at least, have some respect for victims and those trying to find solutions to the unacceptable situation.”
