Controversial Nigerian politician and former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode has made explosive allegations suggesting that external forces are deliberately stoking religious tensions in the country with the aim of triggering civil conflict.
The former minister’s statement represents a conspiracy theory that has gained traction among some Nigerian political commentators who view the country’s ongoing security challenges through the lens of foreign interference. Fani-Kayode’s assertion specifically implicates the United States and unnamed allied nations, along with what he describes as “local collaborators.”
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, is roughly divided between a predominantly Muslim north and a largely Christian south, with significant religious minorities in both regions. The country has experienced periodic religious tensions, though most analysts attribute current security challenges to factors including poverty, unemployment, weak governance, and the activities of terrorist groups and criminal gangs.
Fani-Kayode’s allegations come without presented evidence, and such claims of deliberate foreign plots to destabilize Nigeria through religious conflict remain unsubstantiated. The United States has been a partner to Nigeria in counter-terrorism efforts, providing military assistance and intelligence support against groups like Boko Haram.
Critics argue that such conspiracy theories may themselves contribute to the divisiveness they claim to expose, potentially undermining efforts to build national unity. However, supporters of Fani-Kayode’s viewpoint contend that external powers have historical precedents of interfering in African affairs.
The tweet has generated thousands of responses, with Nigerians divided over whether foreign manipulation plays a role in their nation’s conflicts or whether such allegations serve as distractions from addressing domestic governance failures.
In his controversial tweet, Fani-Kayode wrote, “The truth is that the Americans, their allies & their local collaborators are carefully & craftily preparing the ground for a religious war in our country & they want us to tear ourselves apart.”
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