Turaki’s Remarks on Christian Genocide, Threat to National Security – Says Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has condemned the call by factional Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman, Kabiru Turaki, for United States President Donald Trump and other world powers to intervene in Nigeria’s political affairs, describing the appeal as reckless and a direct threat to national security.

Wike made the remarks on Wednesday when he received board members of the South-South Development Commission, led by Chairman Chibudom Nwuche, on a courtesy visit to his Abuja office.

It was reported earlier that Turaki, reacting to the violent clash between rival PDP factions at the party’s national secretariat on Tuesday, urged President Trump and other Western nations to “save Nigeria’s democracy.”

‘You Cannot Keep Your House in Order’ – Wike Faults Turaki’s Claims

Responding sharply, Wike said Turaki’s statement was irresponsible and exposed a misunderstanding of Nigeria’s political environment.

“Look at a threat to national security. You are calling on Trump to come and save your democracy when you cannot obey a simple court judgment,” he said.

Wike accused Turaki’s faction of repeatedly violating court orders, insisting that the PDP crisis was self-inflicted.

“Simple court judgment: don’t do this until you have done this. Now you are turning it around against a government. What is their business?
“You cannot keep your house in order; you are blaming an outsider for not keeping your house in order. Who does that?” he queried.

He maintained that the administration of President Bola Tinubu had nothing to do with the PDP’s internal war.

“Our democracy is not under threat. People went to court to challenge what you are doing. Then you think, as usual, impunity, let’s do it. We can’t continue that way,” Wike stated.

The former Rivers State governor also faulted Turaki’s claim that Christians in Nigeria were being subjected to “genocide,” describing the allegation as dangerous and capable of inflaming national tensions.

“You come out and make a statement on national television to say, look, it is not only killing — genocide against Christians,” Wike said.

He noted that such an accusation implied that the Federal Government was persecuting Christians, insisting that security agencies should have invited Turaki for questioning.

“In essence, you have come out to tell the world that what this government is doing is carrying out genocide against Christians. And where are the security agencies?” he asked.

“For somebody to make such a statement, you won’t invite them to come and say, ‘Maybe you know better; you have facts. Kindly give us so that we will know what to do.’
“You don’t want to say anything. But if it is Wike, kill him!” he added sarcastically.

Turaki had earlier told journalists that Nigeria’s democracy had reached a breaking point following the PDP crisis, insisting that only global intervention could salvage the situation.

“I want to call on President Trump. What is at stake is not just a genocide against Nigerian Christians. He should come and save democracy in Nigeria,” Turaki said.

He also urged “all advanced democracies” to intervene.