Omoyele Sowore, the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) and founder of Sahara Reporters, has sharply criticized U.S. President-elect Donald J. Trump for his recent rhetoric on Nigeria, labeling him a "lying machine, a racist, and a hypocrite."
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Sowore addressed Trump's claims of wanting to intervene in Nigeria to protect Christians amid ongoing security challenges in the country.
"Trump is a lying machine, a racist and a hypocrite who believes he can fool everyone, when in reality he is only fooling the foolable," Sowore wrote. "How can you claim to want to save Christians in Nigeria while banning them from entering the United States?"
Sowore's remarks come in response to Trump's recent threats of potential military action in Nigeria, ostensibly to safeguard Christian communities from violence and instability. However Sowore highlighted the hypocrisy in Trump's stance, pointing to the travel ban imposed on Nigeria during Trump's first presidency in 2020, which restricted immigrant visas for Nigerians and was widely criticized for its discriminatory impact.
Although the ban was lifted by President Biden in 2021, speculation has arisen about its potential reinstatement under Trump's incoming administration.
"Trump alone cannot be blamed; too many of our own people also do not know any better," Sowore added, emphasizing that Nigeria's issues stem from internal leadership failures rather than requiring foreign intervention. He urged Nigerians of all faiths Christians, Muslims, animists, and non-religious to reject external saviors and focus on building accountable governance at home.
Sowore, a prominent activist and marathoner known for his #RevolutionNow movement, has long advocated for radical reforms in Nigeria to combat corruption, violence, and inequality. His criticism of Trump underscores a broader call for self-reliance and national renewal, warning against the perils of U.S. military involvement based on historical precedents in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and Syria.