The Arewa Think Tank (ATT) has strongly condemned former U.S. President Donald Trump over his recent comments classifying Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC), describing the move as a veiled attempt by the West to sow religious division and destabilize the country.
In a statement issued in Kaduna, ATT Convener, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, accused the Western world of using religion as a tool of manipulation after failing in previous efforts to undermine Nigeria’s unity and progress.
“We condemn the Western world’s stance aimed at creating a religious crisis in Nigeria, using some of our own people as collaborators,” Yakubu said.
“We are warning such individuals to stay away from this dubious collaboration and urging the Federal Government not to fall for this trap.”
He warned that the recent designation by Mr. Trump had “little to do with any genuine concern for Christians in Nigeria,” insisting that Nigerian Christians are not facing genocide, contrary to Western claims.
“For decades, Muslims and Christians in Nigeria have lived together in peace, mutual respect, and understanding — and will continue to do so,” the statement read.
“Both faiths share a common enemy: the radical terrorist groups Boko Haram and ISWAP, whose heinous acts have claimed more Muslim lives than Christian ones, according to credible statistics.”
Yakubu stressed that what Nigerians truly need from the United States is genuine partnership in combating terrorism through:
He cautioned Washington against using the false narrative of “Christian persecution” as a pretext for another round of foreign interference.
“Mr. Trump and his allies should not use the false narrative of ‘Christian genocide’ as a pretext to launch another ‘weapons of mass destruction’ or ‘regime change’ operation; tactics that have left Iraq, Libya, and other nations in ruins for over a decade,” Yakubu warned.
The ATT Convener urged Nigerians supporting Trump’s position to learn from history, noting that similar Western interventions have resulted in chaos and plunder.
“Whenever the American political establishment pushes such narratives, what follows is destabilization, chaos, and the looting of resources, as we have seen in Iraq, Yemen, Syria, Libya, and even Ukraine,” he said.
Yakubu further suggested that the sudden Western concern for Nigerian Christians is economically motivated, citing Nigeria’s growing energy and mineral potential.
“Nigeria is rising. With a 650,000 barrels-per-day refinery now operational and total refining capacity projected to exceed 1.6 million barrels per day within three years, our energy independence threatens Western interests. Our lithium and other critical minerals are also in high demand globally,” he explained.
According to him, as China strengthens its economic partnership with Nigeria and other African nations, Western powers, losing ground in sub-Saharan Africa are resorting to destabilization tactics.
“Their only remaining strategy is to create crises, supply weapons, and plunder resources — just as they did in Iraq, Syria, and Libya. Now their focus is on Nigeria, the pride and hope of the Black race,” Yakubu asserted.
He called on all Nigerians, regardless of religion or ethnicity, to stand united against foreign manipulation.
“We must unite as Nigerians and resist these divisive tactics. Let us stand firm, as the Afghans did, against foreign exploitation. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he concluded.
