Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has appealed for renewed diplomatic engagement between Nigeria and the United States following threats by U.S. President Donald Trump to consider military intervention in Nigeria.
In a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke urged both nations to pursue peaceful dialogue and constructive diplomacy anchored in their decades-long partnership.
“I appeal to the Presidency of the United States to support Nigeria in fully implementing its new national security strategy,” the governor said.
According to Adeleke, Nigeria’s newly adopted security framework is robust enough to tackle banditry, terrorism, and other violent crimes, provided it receives sustained international cooperation.
He commiserated with families of victims of violence in northern Nigeria and called on the U.S. to assist Nigeria in overcoming terrorism rather than resorting to threats.
Adeleke described Trump’s remarks as “a wake-up call” for Nigeria to deepen its counterterrorism collaboration with global allies.
Speaking on the issue, Bola Akinterinwa, a former Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, observed that President Bola Tinubu has maintained a more measured approach compared to Trump’s rhetoric.
“We need our international partners to expand their support for Nigerian security agencies,” Akinterinwa said. “Peaceful interface between Abuja and Washington holds the key rather than military intervention by the American government.”
Adeleke also praised President Tinubu’s administration for its diplomatic efforts to defuse tension with Washington and address Western concerns.
“This is the time to unite as a nation and support national leadership to tackle threats against our citizens,” he said. “We need peace, not war, to deepen our democracy and protect our people.”
Meanwhile, Trump, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, reaffirmed his warning of possible military operations in Nigeria over what he described as the “mass killings of Christians.”
Asked whether U.S. troops or airstrikes were being considered, he replied, “Could be – I envisage a lot of things.”
On his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump claimed that Christianity was facing “an existential threat” in Nigeria and said he had instructed the Pentagon to prepare a possible attack plan.
“If Nigeria fails to stop the killings, U.S. action will be fast, vicious, and sweet,” he warned.
Responding to Trump’s comments, Daniel Bwala, spokesperson for President Tinubu, told AFP that Nigeria remains a steadfast U.S. partner in the global fight against terrorism.
“Nigeria welcomes U.S. support to fight terrorism as long as it respects our territorial integrity,” Bwala said, adding that Trump’s remarks might be an attempt to prompt high-level talks between both leaders.
He revealed that Tinubu and Trump may soon meet to discuss shared security concerns and address religious tolerance issues.
Tinubu had earlier dismissed claims that Christians were being targeted more than other groups, insisting that Nigeria’s religious harmony remains strong.
“The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality,” Tinubu stated.
