Nigerians have recently resurfaced a tweet from former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, dating back to 2018, in which he accused Fulani jihadists of being responsible for the deaths of thousands of Christians across the country. The tweet highlighted the alleged failure of authorities to punish the perpetrators of these heinous acts, bringing attention to a history of unchecked violence that claimed the lives of over 5,300 Christians in that year alone.
The resurfacing of this old tweet comes on the heels of Fani-Kayode’s recent public criticism of U.S. President Donald Trump for describing Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” due to the reported persecution of Christians and his order for the U.S. Department of War to prepare for potential military intervention. Many Nigerians have now drawn attention to Fani-Kayode’s past remarks, accusing him of apparent double standards, given that he condemned Trump for threatening Nigeria while previously highlighting similar issues of Christian persecution in the country.
Old Tweet Resurfaces Amid Trump Criticism
In the 2018 tweet, Fani-Kayode had written: “The jihadists who killed the RCCG Evangelist for preaching in Abuja were set free. The ones who killed Bridget, the Deeper Life Pastor’s wife in Kano were set free. No Fulani terrorist has been reprimanded or jailed for killing more than 5,300 Christians in 2018 alone.” This post has since circulated widely, reigniting debates about the Nigerian government’s handling of religiously-motivated violence.
Fani-Kayode Labels Trump a “Tyrant”
Following the renewed attention to his old tweet, Fani-Kayode took to X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday to blast President Trump, describing him as a “tyrant” and a “sociopathic megalomaniac.” He condemned Trump for allegedly threatening Nigeria with military action and invasion under the pretext of protecting Christians. In his post, Fani-Kayode wrote:
“Imagine a deranged & sociopathic megalomaniac & tyrant, a recalcitrant and unrepentant schoolyard and dockside bully and a cheap and shameless godless scumbag like @realDonaldTrump threatening our country with violence, military action and invasion. What a nerve!”
Nigerians React to His Change in Tone
In the same post, Fani-Kayode shared that a friend had expressed concern about Trump’s statements. However, he emphasized that Nigerians would not flee their homeland if the U.S. were to attack. He asserted that citizens would remain, resist, and defend their country, while also pointing out that complacency and cowardice could not be tolerated when facing foreign intimidation. Fani-Kayode stressed the importance of strong, decisive leadership in such times of crisis to protect national sovereignty and ensure the safety of the people.
Linking Trump to Netanyahu
Fani-Kayode further accused Trump of collaborating with Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, whom he likened to a “modern-day Hitler.” He claimed that while Trump ignored atrocities in countries like Sudan, he attempted to brand Nigeria with a genocide label, portraying Nigerians as perpetrators of Christian killings. According to Fani-Kayode, these remarks were part of a calculated effort to provoke chaos and instability within Nigeria, creating a false narrative that the country was failing to protect its Christian population while masking real geopolitical agendas.
The renewed focus on Fani-Kayode’s 2018 tweet has generated intense discussion on social media, with many Nigerians debating the consistency of his stance and reflecting on the broader implications of foreign criticism on domestic religious tensions. The tweet, combined with his latest remarks, has once again put the spotlight on both historical and current challenges facing Nigeria in protecting religious minorities and maintaining national unity.