Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has lashed out at former United States President, Donald Trump, describing his threat of military invasion in Nigeria over alleged “Christian genocide” as reckless, ignorant and “the language of a madman.”
Soyinka spoke on Friday in Makurdi after a meeting with Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia.
He was reacting to Trump’s widely circulated statement vowing to stop US aid to Nigeria and launch an armed offensive “guns-a-blazing” if killings of Christians continued.
Trump had said: “If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid… and may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing,’ to completely wipe out the Islamic terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.”
But Soyinka dismissed the remarks as thoughtless and dangerous, accusing the ex-US president of oversimplifying a complex national crisis.
“You don’t just open your mouth and say, ‘I’m coming to help you whether you like it or not,’” Soyinka said.
“With poor, almost non-existent analysis of the complexities of where the problem is. And then you say you are coming ‘guns-a-blazing.’”
He added: “Is that the language of somebody whose head is correct? What else do you want me to say?”
The Nobel laureate insisted that no country should accept any form of foreign intervention framed in violence, warning that such posturing disrespects victims and undermines ongoing efforts to address insecurity.
“Because I’m ill or have difficulties does not mean I should accept aid from a madman,” he said. .
“Any government has an obligation to ensure the welfare of citizens. But at least, have some respect for victims and those trying to find solutions to the unacceptable situation.”
Trump’s controversial comments have sparked global debate, with Nigerian authorities and civil society groups warning that such rhetoric could worsen tensions in an already fragile security environment.
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