A heated exchange has erupted online following U.S. Secretary Marco Rubio’s announcement of visa restrictions targeting individuals involved in religious persecution, with Nigeria among the countries listed. Former Presidential aide Bashir Ahmad strongly criticised the U.S. stance, describing it as an unwarranted interference in Nigeria’s domestic affairs.
In a post shared on his verified Twitter account, Ahmad said the United States “has absolutely no right” to dictate how Nigeria manages its internal governance or religious issues.
“In as much as I don’t want to continue talking about this, but I must say this—what a blatant intrusion into our internal affairs!” he wrote. “The United States has absolutely no right to dictate to us how we should live, govern ourselves or practice our faith, as Nigeria is a sovereign nation with our own Constitution, democratic institutions, cultural values and legal frameworks.”
Ahmad’s remarks reflect growing sentiment among some Nigerian political figures who view Washington’s visa restrictions as undermining Nigeria’s sovereignty and portraying an incomplete understanding of the country’s complex security challenges.
However, the controversy deepened when political commentator Elias Gerasoulis, reacting to Ahmad’s statement, issued a more provocative response. In a retweet that quickly gained attention, Gerasoulis argued that Nigeria does not deserve the diplomatic respect accorded a sovereign nation. He suggested that the U.S. should treat Nigeria in the same manner it treats Venezuela—a nation Washington views as authoritarian and routinely sanctions.
“Nigeria doesn’t warrant the respect of a sovereign nation. The US should approach Nigeria in the same way it approaches Venezuela,” Gerasoulis wrote. View, More,
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