…Urges FG to defend sovereignty against U.S. ‘religious politics’
LibertyNews has issued a hard-hitting editorial condemning the recent designation of Nigeria as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ (CPC) by the Trump-led United States government, describing the move as “reckless hypocrisy masquerading as virtue”.
In the strongly-worded news editorial, titled: “Nigeria–US Rhetoric Over Religion: Drawing the Line Between Concern and Control”, its Editorial Board member, Mohmood Tunde Hassan accused Washington of using human rights as a political weapon to undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty.
Hassan wrote: “The Trump administration’s posture is not moral leadership; it is global bullying dressed up as virtue. To contemplate military action against Nigeria on the basis of contrived allegations is callous, provocative, and diplomatically irresponsible”.
The editorial argues that Nigeria is being unfairly targeted under the guise of human rights advocacy, insisting there is no evidence of state-sponsored persecution of Christians as alleged by Washington. Instead, it describes the U.S. stance as part of a “geo-political overreach” intended to pressure Abuja into submission.
Hassan accused the Trump administration of “selective morality” and “moral arrogance,” noting that the U.S. routinely overlooks human rights violations by its allies while condemning independent nations like Nigeria. “This is not about religion. It is about power — the old imperial tactic of branding and coercing nations into obedience under the sanctimonious banner of concern”, the editorial asserted.
LibertyNews called on the Nigerian government to issue a decisive response, including summoning the U.S. Ambassador to provide evidence backing the designation. The paper further urged Abuja to rally the African Union, ECOWAS, and other regional blocs to resist what it described as “Western moral exceptionalism”.
“The sovereignty of African nations must cease to be decorative,” the editorial stated. “The era of Western powers lecturing African nations into submission must end – and it must end now”.
While condemning Washington’s action, the editorial also advised Nigeria to seize the moment for self-reflection by strengthening interfaith harmony, protecting human rights, and diversifying diplomatic and economic alliances beyond Western influence.
“Nigeria must answer with calm strength – boldly, firmly, and unapologetically. Silence is submission. It’s time to take a stand”, the LibertyNews editorial concluded.
