Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has criticised recent comments by U.S. President Donald Trump describing Christianity as facing an “existential threat” in Nigeria.
Sowore argued that Nigeria’s challenges stem from decades of failed governance, corruption, and irresponsible leadership, not religious persecution.
Trump, in a post on his Truth Social platform on Friday, alleged that “radical Islamists” were responsible for mass killings of Christians in Nigeria and announced his intention to designate the country as a “Country of Particular Concern.” He added that the United States “cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening,” pledging to defend Christians globally.
“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter,” Trump wrote, adding that his administration would “stand ready, willing, and able to save our great Christian population around the world.”
The Federal Government had also dismissed the remarks by Trump in a statement issued on Saturday by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa in which it described Trump’s claims as inaccurate and not representative of the situation in Nigeria.
Responding via his X handle on Saturday, Sowore described Trump’s claims as “misguided,” warning against framing Nigeria’s complex insecurity as a religious conflict. According to him, the country’s real crisis is the persistent failure of leadership across all levels of government.
“Nigeria should have long been cited as a Country of Concern for its persistent failure to protect its citizens. 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,” Sowore said.
While expressing sympathy for Christian communities in states such as Benue, Plateau, Gombe, and Kaduna that have faced repeated attacks, he also noted that Muslim populations in Katsina, Zamfara, Borno, and Yobe suffer similar violence and insecurity. “Across the nation, Nigerians whipped by hunger, poverty, and displacement cry out for safety and dignity,” he added.
Sowore maintained that international intervention or special designations, such as the one proposed by Trump, can only provide temporary relief. He emphasised that sustainable solutions lie in visionary domestic leadership that prioritises justice, security, and accountability.
“While international attention might bring momentary relief to some communities, the real solution lies within honest, courageous leadership that values human life above politics. No foreign power can fix what corrupt and careless leaders have broken from within,” he said.
He concluded that Nigeria’s redemption would only come through “people-centred leadership” capable of rebuilding trust, restoring dignity, and uniting citizens across religious and ethnic divides.
