ASHE Foundation Warns: Trump’s Nigeria Threat A Recolonisation Plot, Not Humanitarian Mission
By JULIET EKANEM
THE ASHE Foundation has raised alarm over what it describes as a veiled attempt at recolonisation disguised as humanitarian concern following U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to invade Nigeria over alleged Christian killings. In a strongly worded statement, the sociocultural think-tank argued that the supposed “Christian genocide” narrative masks deeper geopolitical and civilizational rivalries aimed at reasserting foreign control over Africa’s resources and sovereignty.
Prince Justice Faloye, ASHE Foundation’s president, said the threat of invasion reflects an old pattern of imperialism — a modern iteration of the 19th-century scramble for Africa. He noted that current Western maneuvers in Nigeria must be seen against the backdrop of a renewed global contest for influence on the continent, particularly as Russia gains ground in the Sahel and the West struggles to maintain its dominance.
Faloye asserted that if Nigeria’s government had addressed longstanding demands for restructuring and established state police, there would have been no basis for foreign intervention. He argued that the failure to empower local security systems has left the country vulnerable to both internal insecurity and external manipulation.
“The danger of Trump’s posture lies in its framing — reducing complex ethnic and territorial conflicts into a religious binary between Christians and Muslims,” Faloye stated. “It is an attempt to reassert Western control under the guise of protecting human rights.”
He warned that such rhetoric risks inflaming religious divisions and undermining Nigeria’s sovereignty, especially given the nation’s history with colonial intervention. Faloye further linked present tensions to a cycle of global power struggles dating back centuries, in which African civilizations have often borne the brunt of external ambitions.
According to ASHE Foundation, recent U.S. actions — including plans for an expansive embassy complex in Lagos — should raise concerns about possible long-term strategic intentions. The foundation urged the Nigerian government to demand transparency on such projects and to safeguard against any moves that could compromise national autonomy.
Faloye drew parallels between President Bola Tinubu’s political situation and the historical fall of Lagos to the British in 1861, warning that economic policies perceived to weaken citizens could open doors to external domination. He urged Tinubu to “learn from history” by immediately restructuring the federation, establishing state police, and building a unified security framework to protect the nation from both internal decay and foreign aggression.
The Foundation cautioned that a U.S. military intervention in Nigeria would be catastrophic, igniting religious and ethnic conflicts while destabilizing West Africa. It argued that such a move would likely fail, as previous U.S. interventions in complex societies had led to prolonged chaos rather than stability.
“The United States has never confronted a country with Nigeria’s diversity and scale,” Faloye said. “Any invasion would not only devastate Nigeria but could trigger global racial and geopolitical backlash.”
ASHE Foundation concluded that Nigeria must take charge of its own destiny by addressing insecurity through local policing, restructuring the federation along the lines of the 2014 National Conference recommendations, and reducing dependency on foreign powers.
“The solution is not foreign intervention but internal reform,” the statement emphasized. “A restructured Nigeria, secure within its borders, will leave no room for recolonisation disguised as humanitarian aid.”
