Kwankwaso urges diplomacy and technical aid after President Trump’s warning to Nigeria; he calls for
Rabiu Kwankwaso, the NNPP’s 2023 presidential candidate and former governor of Kano State, has urged the United States to help Nigeria tackle insecurity with “cutting-edge technology” rather than issuing threats that could deepen divisions.
Kwankwaso made the call on X after US President Donald Trump designated Nigeria a “country of particular concern” over claims of mass killings of Christians and warned that the US could cut aid or even send forces if the Federal Government fails to act.
“The United States should assist the Nigerian authorities with better cutting-edge technology to tackle these problems, rather than posing a threat that could further polarise our country,” Kwankwaso wrote.
He also urged diplomatic engagement, including appointing envoys and permanent ambassadors to defend Nigeria’s interests abroad.
Trump’s social media posts said Christianity faced an “existential threat” in Nigeria and ordered US defence planners to prepare “possible action,” threatening to stop aid and, in stark language, to enter Nigeria “guns-a-blazing” if killings continue.
The comments have drawn sharp reactions from Nigerian politicians and civil society.
Kwankwaso framed the issue as a national security problem that does not single out any faith or ethnicity and warned that external threats or heavy-handed interventions risk inflaming tensions. His position contrasts with calls from some international quarters for tougher responses to attacks on religious communities.
The exchange raises two clear questions for policymakers: should international partners prioritise technical and intelligence assistance to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to fight insecurity, and how should diplomatic pressure be balanced with respect for Nigeria’s sovereignty?
Analysts say durable progress will require better equipment, intelligence sharing, and coordinated regional action not only public threats
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