Debate has intensified after U.S. Secretary Marco Rubio announced new visa restrictions targeting individuals alleged to be involved in religious persecution, with Nigeria included on the list. Former Presidential aide Bashir Ahmad condemned the decision, calling it an unnecessary intrusion into Nigeria’s internal affairs.
In a post shared on his verified X account, Ahmad argued that the United States has “absolutely no right” to dictate how Nigeria manages its governance or religious matters. He stressed that Nigeria is a sovereign nation with its own Constitution, democratic structures, cultural values, and legal systems.
Ahmad’s comments reflect the growing sentiment among some Nigerian political observers who believe Washington’s visa restrictions undermine the country’s sovereignty and fail to account for the complexity of its security challenges.
The debate escalated further when political commentator Elias Gerasoulis responded to Ahmad’s stance with a more controversial view. In a widely circulated retweet, Gerasoulis stated that Nigeria does not deserve the diplomatic respect accorded to a sovereign nation.
According to him, the United States should treat Nigeria the same way it treats Venezuela—a country Washington regularly sanctions and classifies as authoritarian.
Gerasoulis wrote, “Nigeria doesn’t warrant the respect of a sovereign nation. The US should approach Nigeria in the same way it approaches Venezuela.”
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