Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has criticized Umar Turaki, the factional Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for urging US President Donald Trump to intervene in Nigeria’s political affairs. Wike asserts that Nigeria’s democracy is not under threat, countering Turaki’s claims made during a recent courtesy visit by the South-South Development Commission.
Turaki had called on President Trump and other democratic nations to “save Nigeria’s democracy,” emphasizing concerns over internal conflicts within the PDP’s national secretariat. He characterized the situation as a potential genocide against Nigerian Christians and implored international intervention to preserve democratic governance.
In response, Wike condemned Turaki’s statement, insisting it posed a threat to national security. He highlighted the troubling hypocrisy of Turaki’s faction refusing to obey court rulings while casting blame on the government of President Bola Tinubu. Wike stated, “You are calling on Trump to come and save your democracy when you cannot obey a simple court judgment.”
Wike expressed dismay that Turaki’s comments could imply ongoing genocide, urging security agencies to seek clarification from Turaki rather than allowing such allegations to go unchallenged. He reminded the public that failing to manage internal party disputes should not lead to seeking outside intervention, urging political actors to address their issues internally.
The former governor of Rivers State emphasized the stability of Nigeria’s democracy, urging a focus on self-governance rather than placing accountability on foreign entities. Wike concluded by condemning the misuse of the term “genocide,” asserting that national security concerns should be taken seriously and handled with accuracy.
