Former Senator Kabiru Marafa has publicly defended his controversial support for a threat of military action in Nigeria made by former United States President Donald Trump. Marafa argued that the dire security situation in the country necessitates such drastic external pressure to force the government into action.
Marafa's Justification for Supporting Trump's Threat
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television's Politics Today program on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, the former lawmaker representing Zamfara Central stated that many Nigerians missed the point of Trump's intervention. He claimed the focus on national sovereignty overshadowed the critical issue of mass killings occurring in northern communities.
"I strongly support the President of America, Donald Trump, for issuing that threat," Marafa declared. He elaborated that while he values patriotism and sovereignty, these concepts hold no meaning for the deceased. "But of what importance is sovereignty to a dead man?" he questioned rhetorically.
Marafa insisted that external pressure from a power like the U.S. was a key factor that recently pushed Nigerian authorities to review the nation's security architecture. He accused the country's elite of often prioritizing patriotic sentiments over the actual lives being lost daily to bandits and terrorists.
Communities Surrendering and Alleged Sabotage
The ex-senator painted a grim picture of total state failure in the North-West region. He revealed that entire communities have lost confidence in the state's ability to protect them and are now negotiating directly with bandit groups for their survival.
He described a shocking scenario where bandits often arrive at negotiation venues dressed in military or police camouflage while security agents watch helplessly. Marafa directly linked part of the ongoing crisis to illegal mining activities in Zamfara and other states, alleging that criminal networks profit from the insecurity.
He argued that these networks deliberately keep communities under terror to maintain control over lucrative mining zones. Although he did not name specific individuals, Marafa asserted that authorities are well aware of the actors behind mining-related insecurity and violence.
A Direct Challenge to President Tinubu
Marafa issued a pointed challenge to President Bola Tinubu, advising him to govern as the President of Nigeria rather than as the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He stressed that victims of violence do not care about party affiliations when seeking protection.
"Now the president, like I said, should stop being the president of APC and become the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria," Marafa stated. He expressed belief that Tinubu possesses the constitutional power and public support to act boldly against insecurity.
The former senator issued a stern warning that no defence minister can achieve success unless the presidency first removes alleged saboteurs operating within the Ministry of Defence and other security agencies. He claimed the intelligence community already has sufficient information to identify these collaborators but that successive administrations have lacked the political will to act.
Government Response and Counterclaims
In a related development, Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Policy Communication, presented a counter-narrative. He claimed that insecurity in Nigeria actually escalated following Trump's recent remarks.
Bwala, speaking on Channels Television's The Morning Brief on December 3, acknowledged the country is going through a difficult period. However, he assured Nigerians that the Tinubu administration is taking "far-reaching decisions" on national security, the effects of which will soon become evident.
He further disclosed that the federal government plans to soon reveal the identities of individuals and networks responsible for financing terrorism in Nigeria. Bwala stated the administration is intensifying efforts to counter the terrorist threat and will expose those enabling such activities across the country.
The debate highlights the deep frustration over Nigeria's protracted security crisis and the divergent views on how to solve it, ranging from welcoming external pressure to asserting national sovereignty and governmental action.
