A viral post on X has ignited fierce debate across Nigeria after a netizen accused the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, of effectively declaring “international war” on the northern region following her recent comments in Washington.
In a widely shared message, Dr Bello MZ (@Lonnewulf) wrote: “The north MUST mobilise against Tinubu and his darling Remi.
She just declared international war on us!”
The outburst stems from remarks made by Remi Tinubu during a week-long visit to the United States, where she described Christmas Day US military airstrikes on Islamist militants in Sokoto State as “quite a blessing” and a “welcome development”.
Speaking to Fox News Digital, she expressed Nigeria’s eagerness for deeper collaboration with Washington on security matters, stating: “Nigeria is looking forward to collaboration… We are expecting that there will be more.”
The airstrikes, carried out in coordination with Nigerian authorities and later hailed by US President Donald Trump as a “Christmas present” targeting groups accused of attacking Christians, have revived longstanding tensions over foreign military involvement in Nigeria’s northwest.
Mrs Tinubu’s comments, made amid efforts to strengthen ties with the Trump administration, were interpreted by some northern voices as an invitation for external forces to target the region.
The post quickly gained traction, amassing hundreds of likes, reposts, and replies that revealed deep ethnic and regional divisions.
Several users echoed the call for political mobilisation, with one writing that the north would deliver its response “at the 2027 polls”.
Others accused Remi Tinubu of bias against northern Muslims, pointing to ongoing insecurity involving bandits, insurgents, and occasional military errors that affect local communities.
Defenders of the First Lady and the administration argued that her words reflected a pragmatic approach to combating terrorism and banditry, which have plagued northern states for years.
Some southern commentators dismissed the outrage, highlighting what they described as northern leaders’ failure to address internal security challenges effectively.
The controversy highlights persistent fault lines in Nigerian politics, where regional interests, religion, and perceptions of federal bias often collide.
Remi Tinubu’s Washington visit, which included attendance at the National Prayer Breakfast where President Trump acknowledged her presence, appears to have amplified these sensitivities at a time when US-Nigeria relations are under renewed scrutiny over counter-terrorism and religious freedom concerns.
READ ALSO: Remi Tinubu Didn’t Ask for Schools or Hospitals, She Asked for More Bombs; Let That Sink — Netizen
As reactions continue to swirl online, the episode underscores how quickly security rhetoric can fuel polarisation in Africa’s most populous nation.
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