There’s a new event in the global hypocrisy Olympics: Deflection 100 metres — sponsored by selective outrage and whataboutism.
Whenever the world raises questions about Israel’s bombing campaigns in Gaza — civilians buried, hospitals hit, journalists silenced — some supporters of Israel sprint to a well-rehearsed line:
“But what about Nigeria?”
Apparently, if you mention Gaza, you must also recite the entire world’s human rights record before you’re allowed to open your mouth.
🪞 The Whataboutism Mirror Trick
This trick works like a magician’s sleight of hand: the moment you say “children are dying in Gaza,” the audience is told to stare at Boko Haram.
It’s not that Nigeria doesn’t have problems. It does — plenty. But invoking Nigeria every time Israel faces criticism is like responding to arson charges by saying, “But your cousin smokes!”
It’s not a defence; it’s a distraction.
🎠How It Works
Stage One – Guilt Transfer: Israel’s defender says, “You Nigerians have no right to speak; your country is a mess.” Translation: Only clean nations may speak. (Spoiler: none exist.) Stage Two – Moral Gymnastics: The argument leaps from Gaza’s bomb craters to Nigeria’s potholes. From airstrikes to electricity shortages. The audience gets dizzy — and that’s the point. Stage Three – Global Amnesia: By the time the dust settles, nobody’s talking about Gaza. Mission accomplished.
🇳🇬 Why Nigeria Is the Favourite Punching Bag
Nigeria is an easy scapegoat. It’s big, loud, chaotic, and — let’s admit — has more scandals than a Nollywood trilogy.
But here’s the irony: while Israel bombs Gaza, some of the jet fuel in those planes might come from Nigerian oil. Yes, Nigeria’s crude reportedly finds its way to Israel’s refineries. So when Israel’s critics say “stop fuelling genocide,” Israel’s supporters clap back, “you literally are!”
It’s a moral tango where both dancers keep stepping on each other’s toes.
⚖️ The Flaw in the “Look at Nigeria” Argument
The whole exercise collapses under basic logic:
Pointing to Nigeria’s sins doesn’t wash Israel’s clean. One wrong doesn’t cancel another. And no country has to earn a moral licence before speaking about injustice.
If moral purity were the price of admission to the debate, the UN chamber would be empty — except maybe for the janitor.
🗣️ How to Respond When Hit With the “Nigeria Card”
Stay calm. Deflection thrives on emotional chaos. Acknowledge but redirect: “Yes, Nigeria has issues. Now back to Gaza — what are the rules of engagement under international law again?” Name the trick: “That’s whataboutism. Try again.” Remind them: Justice isn’t a buffet — you don’t have to fix Nigeria before caring about Palestine.
🌍 The Global South Speaks
What annoys the deflectors most is that moral criticism is now coming from outside the traditional Western echo chamber.
Africans, Arabs, and Latin Americans are calling out double standards — and that rattles the establishment.
When Nigerians, South Africans, or Kenyans say, “What’s happening in Gaza is wrong,” it messes with the script. They’re not supposed to have moral clarity — they’re supposed to have “internal problems.”
But conscience isn’t a luxury item. You can have bad governance and still recognize injustice when you see it.
🕊️ The Real Issue
Every time someone says “Look at Nigeria,” remember — they’re trying to make you look away from Gaza.
And that’s the point.
You can condemn Boko Haram and Israeli bombings. You can call out Nigeria’s corruption and demand accountability in Gaza.
It’s not an either/or — it’s an all-of-the-above responsibility.
Centre for Nigeria Progress 