Who Am I to Answer Trump?,
There was drama on the floor of the Nigerian Senate on Tuesday as Senate President Godswill Akpabio and his deputy, Barau Jibrin, openly disagreed over how the National Assembly should respond to U.S. President Donald Trump’srecent threat to take military action against Nigeria.
The session became tense after Akpabio addressed a viral online report claiming he had publicly dismissed Trump’s comments and allegedly said Nigerians were “not complaining” about their condition.
Visibly irritated, Akpabio denied ever making such remarks, describing the report as “false and malicious.”
“Who am I to answer President Trump? Somebody said that the Senate President said Nigerians are not complaining, that we like the way we are living. I have petitioned the police and the DSS,” Akpabio stated.
He accused the publication of attempting to create diplomatic tension and discredit the National Assembly, insisting that the alleged comments were fabricated.
“I’m saying clearly — the Senate President did not answer President Trump. That quotation was meant to cause a diplomatic row. It is the Presidency that should respond to Trump. Who is that person ascribing to me comments I never made?” he asked.
Akpabio further explained that the images circulating online were doctored photos taken during a 2023 visit to Port Harcourt with other senators for a different event.
“Somebody sat comfortably in his room, fabricated a report, and attached fake pictures from an unrelated visit. Who am I to answer Trump?” he asked humorously, prompting brief laughter in the chamber.
However, the mood quickly shifted when Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin interjected, declaring that Nigerian lawmakers had the right to express their views without fear.
“I’m not scared of Trump. I will say my mind. I’m a Nigerian, and Nigeria is a sovereign nation,” Barau said firmly.
“As a parliamentarian and Deputy Senate President, I can speak. Don’t be scared of Trump. We are a sovereign nation, and we have the right to express our position.”
The exchange briefly lightened the atmosphere but also revealed a subtle division between the two presiding officers on how best to respond to Trump’s warning.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government of Nigeria has also reacted to Trump’s comments, urging the former U.S. president to respect Nigeria’s sovereignty and refrain from any plans to deploy American troops to the country.
Daniel Bwala, an aide to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, made this known on Monday during an interview on Russia National TV.
Bwala dismissed the allegations of persecution of Christians in Nigeria as part of an orchestrated media campaignaimed at portraying the Tinubu administration as anti-Christian.
“We try our best to downplay the rhetoric because we know for sure that it doesn’t reflect the realities on the ground,” he said.
He further alleged that certain U.S. lawmakers, including Senator Ted Cruz, had been misled by IPOB sympathizers attempting to influence Washington’s foreign policy.
“President Trump’s decision is anchored on data and reports submitted by IPOB, alleging genocide against Christians in Nigeria. This is false. All credible intelligence and non-governmental organizations have found no such evidence. The only two reports suggesting that narrative are directly linked to IPOB affiliates,” Bwala added.
He emphasized that while Nigeria continues to face security challenges, there is no state-backed religious genocide, contrary to claims being circulated internationally.
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