Who am I to answer President Trump – Akpabio, Barau clash over US threat to invade Nigeria

Senate Divided Over Trump Threat as Akpabio, Barau Clash on Response

Abuja, November 5, 2025 – A mild drama erupted on the floor of the Nigerian Senate on Tuesday as Senate President Godswill Akpabio and his Deputy, Senator Jibrin Barau, disagreed over U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat of military action in Nigeria, following allegations of Christian persecution in parts of the country.

The confrontation began when Akpabio addressed a report by social media platform RANT HQ, which claimed he rebuffed Trump over Nigeria’s classification as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC). The report quoted him as saying: “The killing is taking place in Nigeria, not in the USA. Trump should focus on the US. Nigerians are not complaining about the killings, we are fully satisfied with the condition of Nigeria.”

Akpabio dismissed the quotes as “malicious and completely fabricated,” stressing that he never personally responded to the American leader. “Who am I to answer President Trump?” he asked. He explained that he had petitioned the police and the DSS, noting: “Somebody will sit in the comfort of his room and produce a report and fake pictures of 2023 when the Senate President with Senators visited Port Harcourt on a very different thing and say, oh, Senate President answers President Trump. Who am I to answer President Trump?”

He further added: “It is the Presidency that will answer President Trump. And all Nigerians are doing their best in that direction. But who is that person that will go and ascribe a comment to the Senate President when he was never met? Social media should not break Nigeria.”

Barau, however, insisted on Nigeria’s sovereignty and his right to speak as a lawmaker. “I’m not scared of Trump. I will say my mind. I’m a Nigerian. Nigeria is a sovereign nation. I’m a parliamentarian,” he said, urging the Senate President: “Don’t be scared of Trump. You can say your mind about Trump. We are a sovereign nation.”

The disagreement prompted Akpabio to instruct the Clerk of the Senate, Emmanuel Odo, to delete Barau’s remarks from the day’s proceedings, emphasizing that the comments did not reflect the views of the upper chamber.

Akpabio concluded by warning against the spread of false information, describing it as “meant to cause friction and put the Nigerian Senate in disrepute.” He added that the Senate would respond once the executive clarifies its position regarding Trump’s threat.