The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria, Nyesom Wike, has firmly rejected claims by the factional Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Umar Turaki, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who recently urged the President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, and other developed nations to intervene in Nigeria’s internal political affairs. Wike insisted that the country’s democratic system remains stable and is not facing any existential threat.
This position was expressed on Wednesday when the Minister received the board members of the South-South Development Commission, led by Chairman Chibudom Nwuche, during a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja, the capital city of Nigeria.
Turaki had earlier addressed journalists following a confrontation between two rival groups within the Peoples Democratic Party at the party’s national office in Abuja. In his appeal, he stated, “I want to call on President Trump. What is at stake is not just a genocide against Nigerian Christians. He should come and save democracy in Nigeria. Democracy is under threat. I am calling on all other developed nations, all advanced democracies. Come and save Nigeria, come and save democracy.”
Responding, Wike criticised the call as reckless and dangerous to national security. He argued that Turaki’s faction had refused to comply with valid court judgments, describing such conduct as a continuation of the culture of impunity that has historically weakened internal party democracy in Nigeria. According to Wike, it was wrong for Turaki to attempt to blame the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the internal disorder within the opposition party.
Wike stated, “Look at a threat to national security. You are calling on Trump to come and save your democracy when you cannot obey a simple court judgment. Simple court judgment: do not do this until you have done this. Now you are turning it around against a government. What is their business? You cannot keep your house in order; you are blaming an outsider for not keeping your house in order. Who does that? You are calling on Trump to come and save your democracy. Our democracy is not under threat. People went to court to challenge what you are doing. Then you think, as usual, impunity — let us do it. We cannot continue that way.”
The Minister, who is also a former Governor of Rivers State in southern Nigeria, further noted that Turaki’s statement amounted to accusing the Nigerian government of orchestrating genocide, an allegation he described as severe and unacceptable. He expressed concern that security agencies had not summoned Turaki for clarification, stressing that such claims could damage the international reputation of Nigeria if left unchecked.
He added, “You come out and make a statement on national television to say, look, it is not only killing — genocide against Christians. In essence, you have come out to tell the world that what this government is doing is carrying out genocide against Christians. And where are the security agencies? For somebody to make such a statement, you will not invite them to come and say, ‘Maybe you know better; you have facts. Kindly give us so that we will know what to do.’ You do not want to say anything. But if it is Wike — kill him!”
In his closing remarks, Wike reiterated that Nigeria’s democratic institutions remain functional and that attempts to internationalise partisan disputes will only harm national cohesion. Okay News reports.
