Naja’atu framed her comments as a warning about national sovereignty, arguing that recent developments suggest Nigeria is losing control over its internal affairs.
A Kano-based politician and former President Bola Tinubu's campaign director, Hajiya Naja’atu Mohammed, has said Nigeria is no longer being governed by the elected leadership of Tinubu, alleging that effective control of the country now lies outside its borders.
She made the remarks during an interview with Arewa Source, where she spoke about Nigeria’s political direction, foreign influence and what she described as a departure from the country’s post-independence governance history.
Naja’atu framed her comments as a warning about national sovereignty, arguing that recent developments suggest Nigeria is losing control over its internal affairs.
She expressed concern about the safety and freedom of Nigerians, saying, “It is only God that will continue to protect Nigeria and Nigerians. I have said this before and I will say it again, they have brought back the colonisation era that Nigeria and its people will not have freedom anymore.”
In comparing Nigeria with developments in neighbouring West African countries, she said those states had taken a different position on external involvement, stating, “Niger Republic, Mali and Burkina Faso all resisted and chased foreign intervention in their country, saying they are tired of foreign influence and will not allow them to be decolonised. But because of how bad Nigeria and its leaders have become they are still calling for foreign intervention.”
She then placed her argument within a historical context, noting Nigeria’s stance since independence, saying, “Since Nigeria got it Independence in 1960, it has never accepted military intervention from a foreign country to intervene in an insurance, but this could only happen in the regime of President Bola Tinubu.”
Naja’atu went on to describe what she sees as a loss of national control, adding, “The only thing left for Nigeria now to say is ‘Inna Li Lahi Wa Inna Illaihi Rajiun’, i.e things have gone from bad to worse. Now Nigerians have lost their country to foreign countries. It is not Tinubu that is ruling Nigeria anymore, it is Donald Trump.”
She reiterated the claim by directly alleging a shift in leadership, saying, “We have now been recolonised by Western Powers, Tinubu is no longer the President, Donald Trump is the new President of Nigeria.”
She also raised concerns about economic decision-making and taxation, concluding, “Even our taxes will now be going to France, our country is now a business, the new tax law is full of foreign influence and we will not accept this.”
On December 25, the United States conducted airstrikes on Islamist militant camps in Sokoto State, targeting Islamic State-linked fighters in a coordinated operation with Nigerian authorities.
The strikes were authorised by both Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and U.S. President Donald Trump and were aimed at disrupting militants attempting to operate in the region, according to official statements.
The operation, carried out with precision-guided munitions and supported by Nigerian intelligence, was described by defence officials as part of ongoing counterterrorism cooperation between Abuja and Washington. Nigeria’s foreign ministry said the action was focused on extremist elements and not against civilian populations.
Residents in parts of Sokoto reported that explosions from the strikes caused panic and shook towns as missiles hit suspected militant positions, but there were no confirmed civilian casualties.