Wole Soyinka on Trump sets the tone for a debate that Nigeria has carried for years. The celebrated writer has added his voice to the rising tension after former United States President Donald Trump accused Nigeria of allowing what he described as the killing of Christians. Trump had asked the US Department of Defence to prepare for possible action in Nigeria and warned Abuja to act fast. His remarks quickly drew sharp reactions from Nigeria’s federal government, which insisted that insecurity affects every group and that the claim of targeted killings is misleading.
Soyinka, speaking on Democracy Now, said Trump’s comments were not only sweeping in tone but also capable of worsening the divisions that already exist. He explained that Nigeria’s crisis has never been as simple as Christians against Muslims and warned that such framing is inaccurate and dangerous.
He noted that Nigeria has lived with religious and ethnic tension for decades. According to him, things became far worse once politics mixed with religious identity. He said the country is still dealing with the consequences of that collision.
Soyinka stressed that Nigerian politicians have long weaponised religion and failed to hold extremists accountable. Because of this failure, groups that commit violent acts often escape punishment. He recalled the case of a young woman lynched after an accusation of blasphemy. The incident was recorded on camera, yet many who took part in it were never punished. To him, this is what creates the perception that an all out war exists between Christians and Muslims, when the real issue is the rise of extremist groups.
He made it clear that the country is dealing with violent extremists and political Islamists who operate under names such as Boko Haram or ISWAP, not with Muslims as a whole. He added that these groups have connected themselves to global terror networks and have obtained weapons strong enough to challenge Nigerian security forces. Soyinka also blamed past governments for failing to face violent fundamentalism early and decisively.
Soyinka said statements like Trump’s only widen hostility and make peace harder to reach. He believes such comments reduce a complex national problem into a false religious battle and push communities further apart.
He also revealed that his US visa was once revoked because of his criticism of Trump’s administration. In his words, he has never seen a reason to flatter Donald Trump. He remarked that Trump should even feel flattered that he once compared him to Idi Amin, the former Ugandan leader known for brutality and his self declared title as the last king of Scotland.
