Bashir Ahmad, a former presidential aide, has said that Nigeria does not require assistance from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who recently revealed plans to safeguard Christians in the country.

Netanyahu, during a speech on Wednesday, announced that Israel will establish a “new front” to protect Christian communities across parts of Africa and the Middle East, including Nigeria.

In response, Bashir, via his official X account, commented that Nigeria does not need support from “individuals facing ongoing genocide trials before an international court”.

He wrote, “So, should we applaud this simply to avoid being labelled terrorist sympathisers? Whatever names we may be called, we will still speak up when our country is being disrespected.

“If this is not disrespect, how else do we describe a person wanted by the ICC for genocidal atrocities in Palestine, inserting himself uninvited into our internal affairs and to what end?

“To compound the insult, he did not even deem it necessary to engage Nigeria through our own President, but instead mentioned Trump, as though Nigeria were the 51st state of the United States.

“Indeed, Nigeria needs all legitimate support it can get to address its internal security challenges, but certainly not from individuals facing ongoing genocide trials before an international court.

“Our sovereignty, dignity and moral standing must never be compromised in the name of expediency”.

ASA