Former Zamfara State Governor and senator representing Zamfara West, Abdulaziz Yari, on Wednesday dismissed calls for U.S. intervention in Nigeria’s security challenges, insisting that the country’s problems must be solved internally.
Yari spoke in Abuja at the official flag-off of the One Nigeria Project, organized by the National Association of Former Local Government Council Chairmen (NALGON), emphasizing that the nation’s political elite have contributed to divisions fueling insecurity. He urged the elite, whom he estimated to number no more than two million, to prioritize national interest over personal gain.
“Stop calling on Trump. Trump has no business in Nigeria. He cannot solve the problems of Nigeria. The problem of Nigeria will be solved by Nigerians,” Yari said, stressing the importance of patriotism and local solutions.
Highlighting the role of local government, Yari called for stronger financial frameworks to empower councils, describing them as the tier of government closest to the people but most underfunded. He also contrasted Nigeria’s situation with the United States, urging Nigerian elites to emulate American patriotism while remaining committed to their own country.
Also speaking at the event, former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Michael Aondoakaa, stressed the need to empower local government administrators to address insecurity at the grassroots level. Former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom called on Nigerians to support the Tinubu administration and urged state governors to release funds owed to local councils to promote equity and justice.
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NALGON Emeritus Chairman Alhaji Shaba Ibrahim described the One Nigeria Project as a response to rising political, religious, and cultural divisions, aimed at strengthening national cohesion.
Yari’s remarks follow controversial statements by U.S. President Donald Trump alleging that Christians in Nigeria are being “systematically targeted and killed,” claims which the Presidency has dismissed. President Bola Tinubu, addressing ministers at a recent Federal Executive Council meeting, reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to defeating terrorism and ensuring national stability and economic recovery.
The event emphasized local solutions, national unity, and the role of grassroots governance in addressing insecurity, reflecting a broader push for self-reliance in tackling Nigeria’s security challenges.