The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has launched a strong rebuke of the Federal Government for its failure to promptly inform the Nigerian public about recent United States military actions within the country.
A Troubling Communication Failure
According to the opposition party, Nigerians first discovered that the US had conducted military strikes against terrorist targets in Sokoto State through international channels, not from their own government. The PDP's National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, stated that the news initially broke on the verified social media accounts of US President Donald Trump and other American officials late on Thursday night.
It was only several hours after this international disclosure that Nigeria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement, which the PDP described as vague, to acknowledge the operation. This delay, the party argues, represents a serious failure in leadership and security communication.
Sovereignty and Accountability Concerns
The PDP's statement expressed deep concern over an inverted communication structure where foreign powers announce security operations in Nigeria before its own government. While appreciating international cooperation in fighting terrorism, the party stressed that such an approach does not benefit the Federal Government or its citizens.
The party also referenced past incidents where US military operations were allegedly conducted in Nigeria without the government's knowledge, warning that such precedents raise critical questions about national sovereignty and accountability. The PDP emphasised that the Federal Government's primary role should be to reassure its citizens and demonstrate firm control over national security matters.
Call for Improved Defence Cooperation
In its critique, the PDP urged the Federal Government to ensure that its defence agreement with the United States prioritises joint operations that build Nigeria's domestic capacity. The party advocated for partnerships focused on knowledge sharing and experiential learning, rather than externally led precision attacks.
The core demand is for a defence pact that empowers Nigeria to sustainably combat insecurity from a position of strength and collaboration, not dependency. The PDP concluded that the government must always be the first to report such significant developments to properly sensitise the populace, unless it was itself caught unaware—a scenario that would be equally alarming.
