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A Nigerian human rights activist, Agena A. Robert, has criticised the United States over its sustained actions against Venezuela, describing Washington’s posture as hypocritical, imperialistic, and a dangerous threat to global sovereignty.
In a statement titled “The Hypocrisy of Empire: Why the U.S. Assault on Venezuela Is a Threat to Us All,” Robert accused the United States of masking economic and geopolitical ambitions behind claims of promoting democracy.
According to him, the persistent branding of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro as a “dictator” serves as a convenient pretext for what he described as a naked struggle for control over Venezuela’s vast natural resources.
“The United States’ campaign against Venezuela reads like a grotesque parody of moralism, where the oppressor dons the cloak of virtue. ‘Maduro’s dictatorship’ is the rallying cry, but let us dissect this narrative with surgical precision: this is not a crusade for democracy—it is a naked grab for power, resources, and hegemony,” he said.
Robert argued that authoritarianism is inherent in most modern states, contending that elections merely provide limited checks on power rather than eliminating dictatorship altogether.
“The irony is suffocating. Every nation-state, by its very nature, operates through authoritarian structures; all leaders are dictators, some merely cloaked in electoral legitimacy. So why single out Venezuela alone? The U.S. President, Donald Trump, is a dictator. It takes a dictator to arrest the president of another sovereign nation on foreign soil, alongside his wife, and fly him to the United States using military force,” he stated.
He cited what he described as U.S. double standards, accusing Washington of tolerating drug cartels, shielding powerful elites, and selectively criminalising perceived enemies while projecting itself as a global moral authority.
The activist further warned that the assault on Venezuela reflects a broader pattern of modern neocolonialism, particularly against countries in the Global South.
Using Nigeria as an example, Robert alleged that foreign powers routinely disguise self-interest as benevolence, claiming that the United States and Israel operate under the pretext of “protecting Christians,” China under “development partnerships,” Russia under “security cooperation,” and Europe under the banner of promoting democracy.
He warned that Venezuela’s experience should serve as a wake-up call for other developing nations.
Robert concluded by urging countries of the Global South to resist foreign domination, declaring that they must not become “puppets” in global power struggles.
“Many argue that governance in a capitalist world demands centralized control but respect for the rule of law, and that humanity should come first. Elections offer a limited check on this power, not absolution,” he said.
“Trump’s language is all about Venezuela’s oil, land, and resources. There is no mention of ‘democracy’ until the script demands it.
“The U.S. incubates drug cartels, pardons elites, yet criminalises others. Is your president not a dictator? Nigeria’s last three leaders? The Global North’s moralism is a farce.
“In Nigeria, the U.S. and Israel come under the guise of ‘protecting Christians’; China comes under the guise of ‘developing Nigeria’; Russia comes under the guise of ‘security’; and Europe comes under the guise of ensuring ‘democracy.’
“Yet all these are veils for exploitation. No nation ‘uplifts’ another. Sovereignty is not a negotiable currency.
“‘If they can invade Venezuela, they can invade us.’ This is not about Maduro—it is about pillaging resources and erasing autonomy. We must stand with Venezuela, not out of partisanship, but to defend the right to self-determination.
“Solidarity is imperative. The Global South will not be puppets. Venezuela’s resistance echoes ours.”
