Aisha Yesufu, a prominent political activist and co-founder of the BringBackOurGirls campaign, has expressed strong disapproval of Nigerians who direct their frustrations at each other rather than holding the government responsible for the persistent violence and insecurity plaguing the nation.
In a message shared on X this Tuesday, Yesufu highlighted that many citizens have diverted their anger inward, engaging in conflicts among themselves instead of confronting the political leaders who perpetuate hardship and instability for everyday Nigerians.
She emphasized that the current government has effectively manipulated public sentiment, causing people to quarrel over the backgrounds of victims instead of uniting to demand an end to the bloodshed.
Yesufu also criticized the influence of religious and ethnic biases in the public’s response to insecurity, pointing out that outrage often depends on whether victims share the same faith or ethnic group as the observers.
“Credit must be given to the illegitimate administration of Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Yesufu remarked.
“They have succeeded in turning a defeated populace against one another, distracting them from challenging the government over the ongoing killings. It’s astonishing that the debate centers on who is being targeted rather than the fact that people are being killed at all.”
“Those driven by religious prejudice only acknowledge the deaths of co-religionists, while tribal partisans recognize loss solely within their own ethnic groups.”
“I have repeatedly said that in Nigeria, your death only gains significance if it fits a certain narrative.”
“If people claim there is a Christian genocide in Nigeria, who are we to deny their experience? Are we among the victims?”
“If evidence exists that Muslims or adherents of traditional religions are also being targeted, why not rally your communities or allies to declare a Muslim or traditional worshippers’ genocide, thereby drawing greater global attention to the crisis?”
“Isn’t our shared goal to stop the killings? Yet, some Nigerians remain fixated on waiting for the US to officially recognize a Christian genocide here-after which, what then?”
“What actions are you taking to halt the violence? Don’t claim powerlessness-you are an active participant! You vote, you have influence!”
“Reflect quietly: what have you done to help end this carnage?”