Nigeria’s politics has entered another cycle of familiar drama — the same kind of heated rhetoric, fear messaging, and selective outrage that dominated the Goodluck Jonathan era is resurfacing in full force. What the All Progressives Congress (APC) once weaponized against the former administration is exactly what critics say they are now recycling. The irony is loud, and Nigerians are taking note.
For years, the opposition accused Jonathan’s government of weakness, insecurity failures, and indifference towards the rising wave of Boko Haram attacks. Fast-forward to the present, many political observers argue that those same elements who once stoked fear for political gain have found themselves entangled in the same accusations — with insecurity now spanning Boko Haram, ISWAP, and bandit networks that have destabilized several regions.
But what triggered the latest social media storm?
A misinterpretation — or deliberate distortion — of comments made by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Trump Never Said He Was Invading Nigeria — But the Internet Went Wild
A viral narrative recently resurfaced on Nigerian social media: claims that Donald Trump threatened to “invade Nigeria” to protect Christians.
But the statement attributed to him is misleading.
Trump’s actual comments, which have been widely discussed in U.S. conservative circles, revolve around “flushing out terrorists killing innocent Christians, Muslims and civilians” in regions devastated by extremist violence. Nowhere did he declare plans to invade Nigeria or launch unilateral military intervention. Yet, in the age of sensational headlines and polarized political supporters, nuance easily gets lost.
This misrepresentation was amplified by social media figures such as Reno Omokri and others who used their platforms to spread a narrative that appealed emotionally to their audiences. And just like that, a misleading claim became a nationwide trend.
Political analysts argue that this behavior is becoming a worrying pattern:
the manufacturing of viral fear narratives for political mileage.
The APC’s Old Playbook Is Back — Critics Say
To many Nigerians observing today’s events, the irony cuts deep.
The same framing that the APC and its sympathizers used to discredit Goodluck Jonathan — portraying the government as complicit or sympathetic towards insurgents — is exactly what political commentators say is resurfacing today, but now pointed in the opposite direction.
Flashback to the 2011–2015 era:
Opposition voices frequently accused Jonathan’s government of allowing Boko Haram to thrive.
Some political actors openly spoke in ways that appeared sympathetic to insurgents, allegedly as a strategy to undermine the ruling government.
Infamous statements were made that shaped public perception — including the controversial allegation that Muhammadu Buhari had once warned that “the baboon and the dog will be soaked in blood” if the 2015 election was rigged.
While Buhari’s supporters insist the quote was misinterpreted, critics maintain it reflected the political tension of that era and helped fuel extremist sentiment.
There were also allegations — widely debated and repeatedly brought up by historians and security analysts — suggesting that some northern leaders, including high-profile figures like the Sultan of Sokoto and several political players, expressed sympathy or leniency toward aspects of the insurgency in its early stages. Whether for political pressure or regional bargaining, these actions have had long-lasting consequences.
How Power Politics Helped Incubate Today’s Insecurity
The origins of Boko Haram, ISWAP, and armed banditry in Nigeria are complex — but one fact remains consistent across expert analyses:
Political opportunism played a dangerous role.
Many scholars argue that insecurity was allowed to grow because different factions saw it as leverage during power struggles between 2011 and 2015. Rather than a united national front, Nigeria had political blocs treating insurgency as a tool to embarrass or weaken opponents.
This contributed to:
The evolution of Boko Haram into a globally recognized terror franchise
The emergence of ISWAP with greater sophistication and external connections
The rise of bandit gangs terrorizing the North West and North Central
The collapse of trust between citizens and government institutions
The normalization of violence as a political talking point rather than a national emergency
Today, citizens are experiencing the consequences of those decisions.
Nigeria Must Break This Cycle — Or History Will Keep Repeating
The resurfacing of old narratives, twisted statements, and politicized fear tactics shows that the nation may be trapped in a loop. What was once used to discredit Jonathan is now used to defend or attack the current administration.
But here’s the real danger:
When insecurity becomes a political weapon, citizens become casualties.
Nigeria cannot afford another decade of fear-based politics where misinformation spreads faster than facts, where leaders recycle the same strategies they once condemned, and where social media influencers fan the flames of sensational narratives.
What the Trump saga has revealed is simple:
Politicians and their loyalists will continue to twist stories — unless Nigerians demand truth over propaganda.
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