Human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has declared that Nigeria’s deep-seated crises cannot be resolved by foreign intervention, but only by accountable leadership from within.

Sowore’s statement comes in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” over the alleged genocide of Christians.

In a post on Saturday, Sowore argued that the designation was long overdue, stating that “Nigeria should have long been cited as a Country of Concern for its persistent failure to protect its citizens.”

He placed the blame squarely on the failure of the Nigerian state, condemning the Tinubu administration’s inability to safeguard lives and property. “At every level, the state has failed to safeguard the vulnerable — Christians, Muslims, and traditional believers alike,” Sowore said, highlighting that citizens across all demographics have “suffered under the weight of corruption and illegitimate leadership.”

A Nationwide Plight

Sowore recognized the suffering across different regions and faiths, noting the “pain of the Christian communities in Benue, Plateau, Gombe, and Kaduna” who face relentless attacks. He equally emphasized that “Muslim populations in Katsina, Zamfara, Borno, and Yobe also need protection from marauding killers.”

He described a nation unified by suffering, where Nigerians are “whipped by hunger, poverty, and displacement cry out for safety and dignity.”

The Solution Lies Within

While acknowledging that international pressure might bring temporary relief, Sowore maintained that sustainable change must be homegrown.

“While international attention or special designations might bring temporary relief to some communities, the real solution lies within honest, courageous leadership that values human life and justice above politics,” he stated.

He issued a stark warning against relying on foreign powers: “No foreign power can fix what corrupt and careless leaders have broken from within.”

Sowore concluded by emphasizing that Nigeria’s redemption hinges on a new kind of leadership, urging citizens to focus on building “visionary, accountable, and people-centered leadership, one that protects its citizens, unites its people, and rebuilds the nation from the ground up.”

Background of the U.S. Designation

The statement from the activist follows President Trump’s announcement on his Truth Social platform, where he declared, “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria,” and pointed to “radical Islamists” as being responsible for a “mass slaughter.”

The move aligns with calls from U.S. lawmakers and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), which has repeatedly raised the alarm over the “systematic persecution and slaughter of Christians” in the country. The Nigerian government has consistently denied these allegations.