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From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
Former Labour Party (LP) presidential aspirant and founder of the Rescue Movement for New Nigeria, Faduri Oluwadare Joseph (Fadojoe), has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take the alleged threat of invasion by U.S. President Donald Trump as a wake-up call to rebuild the country rather than dismissing it as mere provocation.
Reacting to reports that Trump referred to Nigeria as a “disgraced country,” Faduri said the comment should not be seen as an insult but a challenge to fix Nigeria’s long-standing problems of corruption, insecurity, and economic decay.
“It is not shocking that Donald Trump would refer to Nigeria in such a way. His words are not necessarily to ridicule us but to remind us of the urgent need to make Nigeria work,” he said.
Faduri decried what he described as deep-rooted misgovernance and the government’s failure to address insecurity, poverty, and unemployment.
He criticised the culture of “suffering and smiling” among Nigerians, saying many citizens defend a system that continually fails them.
While clarifying that he does not support any foreign invasion of Nigeria, Faduri maintained that the alleged comments by Trump should prompt Nigerian leaders to reflect and act decisively.
“Nigeria is a sovereign nation, but in truth, we are neither politically nor economically independent. A few individuals have hijacked the political process while managing national finances as though they own the country,” he said.
He expressed concern about Nigeria’s growing debt profile, estimated at about N23 trillion, questioning the government’s accountability for borrowed funds, many of which, he said, come from U.S.-linked institutions such as the World Bank.
Faduri also faulted the Tinubu administration’s handling of the economy, noting that despite claims of saving N1 trillion monthly after the removal of fuel subsidies, Nigerians have yet to see any tangible improvement in their living conditions.
“By that calculation, over two years, more than N24 trillion should have been saved. Yet, where are the results? Instead, this administration has borrowed more in two years than the Buhari government did in eight years,” he added.
He lamented the rising insecurity and continued emigration of Nigerians in search of better opportunities, saying the government must prioritize security and the welfare of its citizens over politics and self-interest.
Faduri also criticised Nigerian leaders for what he described as wasteful foreign trips, urging President Tinubu to stay in the country and focus on rebuilding it. He called for older politicians to step aside and allow the youth to take charge of the nation’s future.
“Before we rush to defend Nigeria’s image, we must ask ourselves: Are our resources well managed? Is our government truly functional?” he asked.
Faduri described Trump’s remarks as a “symbolic warning” that Nigeria can no longer afford complacency.
“Enough is enough. No Nigerian deserves to die because of insecurity or government negligence. Instead of attacking Trump, our focus should be on fixing our country and restoring dignity to our people,” he said.
