Human rights activist and former presidential candidate of Nigeria, Omoyele Sowore, has stated that the nation’s progress depends on responsible and visionary leadership rather than reliance on foreign assistance.
Sowore made the statement while responding to recent comments by former United States President Donald Trump, who alleged that “Christianity faces an existential threat in Nigeria.” Trump had posted on his Truth Social platform that “radical Islamists” were responsible for widespread killings of Christians in the country and pledged to classify Nigeria as a “country of particular concern.”
Okay News reports that Trump’s declaration drew mixed reactions from international observers and local analysts who cautioned against oversimplifying Nigeria’s complex security challenges along religious lines.
In his reaction shared via his official X handle on Saturday, Sowore described Trump’s remarks as misplaced and warned against reducing Nigeria’s insecurity crisis to religion. According to him, the real threat to Nigerians — Christians, Muslims, and traditional worshippers alike — stems from corruption, poor governance, and decades of failed leadership.
“Nigeria should have long been cited as a country of concern for its persistent failure to protect its citizens,” Sowore said. “At every level, the state has failed to safeguard the vulnerable — Christians, Muslims, and traditional believers alike. Children, women, students, workers, and the elderly have all suffered under the weight of corruption and illegitimate leadership.”
The activist, who is also the publisher of Sahara Reporters, expressed sympathy for Christian communities in northern states such as Benue, Plateau, Gombe, and Kaduna that have faced persistent attacks. However, he added that Muslim populations in states like Katsina, Zamfara, Borno, and Yobe also suffer from the same insecurity.
“Across the nation, Nigerians whipped by hunger, poverty, and displacement cry out for safety and dignity,” he noted.
Sowore argued that while international attention may offer temporary relief, sustainable peace and progress will only emerge through homegrown reform and principled leadership.
“While international attention or designations might bring short-term relief to some communities, the real solution lies in honest, courageous leadership that values human life and justice above politics,” he said. “No foreign power can fix what corrupt and careless leaders have broken from within.”
He urged Nigerians to focus on building visionary, accountable, and people-centered governance that unites citizens and rebuilds the country from the ground up.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, dismissed Trump’s claims in a CNN interview earlier in the week. Idris maintained that terrorist groups do not exclusively target Christians but attack people of all faiths across the country.
“Some of the claims made by some officials of the United States are based on faulty data and assumptions. These criminals do not target one religion. They target both Christians and Muslims,” Idris said.
Sowore concluded by insisting that the key to Nigeria’s redemption lies not in external sympathy but in the emergence of sincere leaders committed to protecting lives, promoting justice, and rebuilding trust among citizens.
