There was a dramatic exchange in the Nigerian Senate on Tuesday as Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, openly confronted Senate Presid...
There was a dramatic exchange in the Nigerian Senate on Tuesday as Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, openly confronted Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, over his cautious response to recent comments by U.S. President Donald Trump accusing Nigeria of genocide against Christians.
Trump had last week redesignated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern,” alleging that the Nigerian government tolerated killings of Christians — a claim that has drawn widespread condemnation from political and diplomatic quarters.
During Tuesday’s plenary, Akpabio informed senators that Nigerians were eager to hear the Senate’s official position on Trump’s remarks. However, he maintained that the upper chamber would refrain from commenting until the Federal Government formally briefed lawmakers on the matter.
“Who am I to reply Trump?” Akpabio asked rhetorically, insisting that the Senate could only deliberate on issues properly communicated through official channels. He added that while the public expected a response, the legislature would wait for an executive briefing before taking any stance.
But Barau, visibly dissatisfied, interjected sharply. “Don’t be scared. I can say it. I am not scared of Trump,” he declared. “I am a Nigerian, a parliamentarian, and the Deputy Senate President of a sovereign nation. He is saying lies about our country, and we have the right to dispute it. Don’t be scared of Trump.”
Akpabio, however, swiftly countered, saying, “How can the Senate President of this country be scared of Trump?” He cautioned his deputy to ensure his words were not misrepresented and later directed the Senate Clerk to delete Barau’s remarks from the official record, describing them as “out of tune.”
The brief confrontation created a moment of tension in the chamber, drawing the attention of other senators as Barau later walked up to Akpabio’s seat for a hushed conversation before returning to his place.
Trump’s comments — later echoed by U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who hinted on X that America was “preparing for action” — have provoked outrage across political and diplomatic circles.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has since rejected Trump’s assertions, stressing that Nigeria remains a democratic nation founded on constitutional guarantees of religious freedom and peaceful coexistence.
China has also backed Nigeria, condemning Trump’s remarks as interference in a sovereign nation’s internal affairs. “Beijing firmly opposes any country using religion or human rights as an excuse to threaten other states with sanctions or force,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters.
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