Ismaeel Aleem
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has sharply criticised the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for issuing what it termed “mindless and unpatriotic” statements in reaction to a recent military threat from United States President Donald Trump against Nigeria.
In an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Wednesday, APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka condemned the opposition parties for attempting to politicise the sensitive issue.
He described their actions as “irresponsible and despicable,” urging a unified national stance amid the escalating tensions.
Morka emphasised that the US government, under President Trump, bears a responsibility to base any decisions or statements on verified facts.
He cautioned that actions rooted in “false narratives” could destabilise not only Nigeria but the entire West African region.
“Any decision or action that is predicated on false argument, or false narratives, what I call some conjured narratives about Nigeria, will not affect Nigeria alone. It will affect every other country within this region,” Morka warned.
He highlighted the porous borders shared with neighbouring countries, noting that any Nigerian response to perceived threats could trigger a cascade of instability, including refugee flows and counter-reactions.
Stressing the need for cooperation, Morka advocated partnership between the US and Nigeria to combat terrorism effectively.
“We can tackle this problem more efficiently if the United States Government will partner with Nigeria to bring any support or assistance that they can muster to the theatre to defeat terror that I know the United States stands vehemently opposed to,” he said.
Turning to domestic politics, Morka accused the opposition of exploiting the crisis for political gain.
“Why would ADC and the PDP be issuing statements that are so mindlessly unpatriotic? It’s wrong. I think there’s a time for national reckoning.
There’s a time for politics. This is not a time for self-serving, senseless political noise-making,” he asserted.
He lambasted the parties for prioritising “political capital” over sovereignty, especially when a foreign power threatens military intervention, potentially including “boots on the ground” in Nigeria.
Morka called for a momentary pause in partisan rhetoric to address the external challenge collectively.
The controversy stems from Trump’s recent statements amid ongoing concerns over regional security and terrorism.
