ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Chief Whip of the Nigerian Senate and Senator representing Borno South, Senator Ali Ndume, has said that former U.S. President Donald Trump is ignorant of the realities in Nigeria, stressing that many Americans have a shallow understanding of the country’s complex challenges.
Ndume made this known during an interview on Arise TV’s PrimeTime on Monday, while responding to Trump’s recent remarks about Nigeria and its security situation.
According to him, the former American leader’s comments reflect the widespread misinformation many foreigners have about Nigeria.
“I have been to America myself. The average American is innocent,” Ndume said.
“You will find an American who lives in Ohio, grows up in Ohio, and has never been to Chicago. That’s where the problem is.”
The senator explained that such a limited worldview often results in misguided conclusions about Nigeria.
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He recalled that he had previously moved a motion in the Senate titled ‘Urgent Need to Correct the Misconception of Nigeria Being a CPC’, aimed at addressing false impressions about the country abroad.
“They said they have set up a committee but nothing was done, and it was treated with levity,” he added.
Ndume also criticized how Western nations, including the United States, tend to issue strong warnings about Nigeria without listening to all perspectives.
“One thing about them is that they issue strong warnings because they only listen to one side and ignore the other,” he said.
Citing examples of violent attacks across Nigeria, the senator noted that the country’s security challenges affect everyone, irrespective of religion or ethnicity.
“If you look at what happened to the Christian faithful in Benue recently, where about 200 people were killed and buried in a mass grave, anyone who sees that would know how gruesome it is. All lives matter,” he stated.
He further recalled the devastating impact of terrorism on his own community.
“In my village, our Emir was killed by Boko Haram on the streets. In my town, about 75 elders were taken to a slaughterhouse; only one escaped,” he lamented.
Ndume emphasized that Nigeria’s challenges are real and multifaceted, and require understanding and balanced reporting from the international community rather than biased judgments.