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Religion not Nigeria’s crisis, says Soyinka
Soyinka
Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka has faulted recent remarks by United States President Donald Trump, who classified Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged persecution of Christians.

He warned that such sweeping statements distort reality and risk deepening religious divisions.

Trump had, earlier this month, threatened possible military action against Nigeria over alleged killings of Christians by radical Islamists.

The Federal Government dismissed the claim, insisting that insecurity in Nigeria affects citizens of all faiths.

In an interview with Democracy Now, Soyinka said the country’s crisis should not be mistaken for a war between Christians and Muslims, but rather seen as a struggle against extremist groups that have weaponised religion for political and economic gain.

“We must separate Nigeria’s long-standing internal problems from President Trump’s recent response. The Christian–Islam, or Islam-versus-the-rest dichotomy has existed for decades. It became truly horrendous when politics got mixed up with religious differences,” Soyinka said.

He accused successive leaders of exploiting religion for power and failing to hold extremists accountable, which allowed impunity to thrive.

Citing the brutal lynching of a student accused of blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad, Soyinka lamented that her killers went unpunished despite being caught on video.

“When perpetrators of such horrors go free, it strengthens the perception that a brutal war is going on between Christians and Muslims. In truth, we are dealing with extremists – political Islamists, sometimes known as ISWAP or Boko Haram – not with Muslims as a people,” he noted.

Read Also: Tinubu has what it takes to secure Nigeria, says Information Minister
The Nobel laureate said extremist groups had formed alliances with global terrorist networks and accessed sophisticated weapons that sometimes overwhelm the Nigerian military. He blamed past leaders for failing to decisively confront violent fundamentalism.

“When we have sweeping statements like Trump’s, it doesn’t make things easier. It expands regions of hostility and makes peaceful resolution even more difficult,” he said.

On the reported revocation of his U.S. visa, Soyinka said it stemmed from his criticism of Trump’s administration.

“I have a feeling that I haven’t been flattering Donald Trump — and I see no reason to do that,” he said, adding that Trump should feel “flattered” by his earlier comparison of him to former Ugandan dictator Idi Amin.

Fed Govt urges calm
The Federal Government yesterday urged Nigerians to remain calm amid the diplomatic row sparked by Trump’s comments.

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Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, made the appeal during a courtesy visit to Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State.

In a statement by his media aide, Malam Rabiu Ibrahim, the minister said President Bola Tinubu has the capacity to safeguard the nation and maintain strong ties with its international partners.

“As such, Nigerians should not panic; please remain calm. President Tinubu has the capacity to amicably resolve the matter,” Idris assured.

He was in Jigawa to attend the North West 2025 Youth Pally and the presentation of President Tinubu’s achievements after two years in office.

Northern groups reject narrative
The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) also faulted the designation of Nigeria as a CPC.

National Coordinator, Comrade Jamilu Charanchi, said Trump’s comments were capable of fuelling sectarian tension at a time Nigerians are striving to overcome insecurity and division.

He said available data contradicts Western claims of one-sided religious persecution.

According to him, 9,662 people were killed in violent incidents across Nigeria in 2024, with 86 per cent of deaths recorded in the northern region — 41 per cent in the Northwest, 25.9 per cent in the Northeast, and 19.3 per cent in the Northcentral.

“Let us be clear: there is no genocide against Christians in Nigeria. There is a national security crisis affecting all Nigerians – Muslims, Christians, and others alike,” he said.

Citing data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), he said that between January 2020 and September 2025, over 20,400 civilians were killed in violent attacks across Nigeria.

Of those where religion could be verified, 317 Christian deaths and 417 Muslim deaths were recorded — clear evidence, he said, that both communities are victims.

Charanchi described the “Christian genocide” claim as a strategic deception serving geopolitical interests aimed at destabilising Nigeria and justifying future Western interventions.

He warned that failure to control Nigeria’s narrative and tackle insecurity could destabilise the entire Sahel region.

https://thenationonlineng.net/religion-not-nigerias-crisis-says-soyinka/

But we can agree that the "religious factor" is a statistically SIGNIFICANT influence on the crisis! We don't have to be political in our commentary.

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I have a feeling that I haven’t been flattering Donald Trump — and I see no reason to do that

Aneke the bird has been singing, since the visa withdrawal.

We should be careful not to allow foreign narratives shape our local realities.

Religion of "peace", tribalism and incompetence are Nigeria's problems.

Whose narratives should we adopt,, is it that of an aggressived hateful professor, or that of an "on the ground native pastor" who has helped in the burials of hundreds of murdered christian faithfuls .

He said he's a freethinker, what's his business with religion then. He should gettat arrahere

Hahaha, let's wait for the uncultured kids to attack Prof about this

Killer jihadists often shouts a well known religious chant before their atrocious and treasonable are basing their ideological inspiration on what? He is just trying in futility to avoid the unavoidable

helinues:
Hahaha, let's wait for the uncultured kids to attack Prof about this

You can continue to live in delusion but the truth is solemn. Wole Soyinka has long lost his reputation.

Racoon:
You can continue to live in delusion but the truth is solemn

Hahaha, let's wait for the uncultured kids to attack Prof about this

One spotted. They can never disappoint

helinues:
One spotted. They can never disappoint

Given what the Christian community in northern Nigeria has been subjected to, I despise and have nothing but contempt. I pray every day for the restructuring or redefinition of Nigeria. This is because, in my view, the rest of us have nothing in common with the core northern Fulani herdsmen/militias and their sponsors in high places. We come from a different world and espouse a different tradition.

Keeping us together in one nation is like putting two big lions together in a small cage. One may be dominant for a while but when the second one comes of age and has had enough, all hell will break loose and they will fight to the death.

At the end of that struggle only one of them will be left standing. That is where we have got to in Nigeria today. It is time to open the cage and let us go before we kill each other..

I believe in the right of the Yoruba people of south-western Nigeria to have Oduduwa Republic if that is their wish. I believe in the right of the Igbo people of south-eastern Nigeria to have Biafra if that is their wish.

And I believe in the right of every ethnic nationality to exercise their right of self-determination if that is their wish. I believe that anything less than that is an assault on their freedom and an eloquent testimony to servitude and slavery.

https://femifanikayode.org/nigeria-a-hell-hole-for-christians/

Racoon:
Given what the Christian community in northern Nigeria has been subjected to, I despise and have nothing but contempt. I pray every day for the restructuring or redefinition of Nigeria. This is because, in my view, the rest of us have nothing in common with the core northern Fulani herdsmen/militias and their sponsors in high places. We come from a different world and espouse a different tradition.

Keeping us together in one nation is like putting two big lions together in a small cage. One may be dominant for a while but when the second one comes of age and has had enough, all hell will break loose and they will fight to the death.

At the end of that struggle only one of them will be left standing. That is where we have got to in Nigeria today. It is time to open the cage and let us go before we kill each other..

I believe in the right of the Yoruba people of south-western Nigeria to have Oduduwa Republic if that is their wish. I believe in the right of the Igbo people of south-eastern Nigeria to have Biafra if that is their wish.

And I believe in the right of every ethnic nationality to exercise their right of self-determination if that is their wish. I believe that anything less than that is an assault on their freedom and an eloquent testimony to servitude and slavery.

https://femifanikayode.org/nigeria-a-hell-hole-for-christians/

You are not a spam bot or are you?

Respond to me logically without doing your rubbish copy and paste

In a multi-religious society like Nigeria, the focus should always be on the extremists, not the religion.

Who is granting this one interviews.

..meet the cornfessor of Apcish politics of renewed hopelessne"s..

What a nuanced discussion about Nigeria's crisis. It seems like some people are trying to separate the wheat from the chaff, while others are just stirring the pot. Let's get real, shall we? The 'religious factor' is indeed a significant influence on the crisis, but let's not forget the role of tribalism and incompetence in the mix.