By Hannah Williams
Nigeria’s National Assembly erupted in drama and defiance on Tuesday as Senate President Godswill Akpabio and his deputy, Jibrin Barau, clashed over U.S. President Donald Trump’s explosive threat to launch “fast, vicious” military strikes on Nigeria.
The fiery exchange, caught on video and now viral with over 2 million views unfolded during the closing moments of the Senate’s 12th plenary session — turning what began as a routine sitting into a thunderous display of patriotism, pride, and political theatre.
Trump’s weekend rant on Truth Social, branding Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged “atrocities” against Christians, has triggered global backlash. The U.S. leader claimed over 7,000 Christians had been killed this year and warned of imminent U.S. retaliation, declaring:
“If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet — just like the terrorist thugs attack our cherished Christians!”
Nigeria’s leaders have dismissed the claims as “false and simplistic,” arguing that the country’s violence affects both Muslims and Christians alike.
But tensions in the chamber spiked when Akpabio condemned a fake social media post falsely quoting him as saying, “The killing is in Nigeria, not the USA.” The fabricated quote, traced to a parody page, RANT HQ, used doctored images from 2023.
“Who am I to answer Trump? It’s the Presidency’s job, not mine,” Akpabio snapped, promising to involve security agencies in tracking the source. “Social media cannot break Nigeria!”
Then came Barau’s thunderbolt.
“Mr. President, don’t be scared! I’m not scared of Trump,” he roared to loud murmurs and applause. “We’re a sovereign nation! What he’s saying is lies about our country!”
Barau’s fiery speech, calling for courage and self-respect, electrified the chamber and sent social media into meltdown. “Barau for President” began trending within minutes under the hashtag #NotScaredOfTrump, with over 150,000 posts and a flood of memes, including one depicting Trump as a cowboy charging the Senate dome.
Catching his deputy’s challenge, Akpabio quipped amid laughter,
“If you want me to say it now, should I? Clerk, delete the Deputy’s statement — it doesn’t represent the Senate!”
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Osun Central) quickly intervened, calling for calm and unity while proposing a special session on Thursday to summon Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar for a full briefing.
“Unity first,” Bamidele urged. “But silence invites escalation.”
Analysts say the confrontation reflects deeper political and security fault lines in the 10th Senate, where over 20,000 lives have been lost to banditry and terrorism since 2020. Conflict expert Dr. Bulama Bukarti described Trump’s remarks as “outdated 2010 drivel,” stressing that “Nigeria’s crisis is complex, not religious.”
With $10 billion in annual U.S.-Nigeria trade now under potential strain, President Bola Tinubu’s administration is working to calm tensions — offering cooperation on intelligence sharing but rejecting any “existential threat” narrative.
As the senators filed out, Barau told reporters,
“We’ll defend our soil with wisdom — but fear? Never.”
Akpabio, in a softer tone, added,
“Nigeria’s diversity is our strength. Peace over division.”
Thursday’s debate now looms as a defining moment — a test of whether Nigeria’s lawmakers can present a united voice in the face of Trump’s provocations, or whether partisan fire will burn hotter than national unity.
For now, the Senate showdown has captured the nation — part political drama, part patriotic spectacle — and a stark reminder that when global powers rattle sabers, even Nigeria’s titans must choose: fear or fortitude.
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