By Ayomide Otitoju
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has called for renewed diplomatic engagement between Nigeria and the United States amid growing tensions following U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat of possible military action over alleged killings of Christians.
In a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke urged both nations to embrace dialogue and strengthen their long-standing partnership rather than resort to confrontation.
“I appeal to the Presidency of the United States to support Nigeria in fully implementing its new national security strategy,” Adeleke said, adding that the country’s comprehensive framework is designed to curb terrorism and banditry nationwide.
The governor extended condolences to families of victims of violence in northern Nigeria and appealed for greater U.S. assistance in counterterrorism operations. He described Trump’s remarks as a “wake-up call” for Nigeria to deepen collaboration with international partners.
Former Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Bola Akinterinwa, also weighed in, noting that President Bola Tinubu is a more measured leader than Trump. “We need our international partners to expand support for Nigerian security agencies,” he said, emphasizing that “peaceful interface between Abuja and Washington holds the key, not military intervention.”
Adeleke commended Tinubu’s administration for its efforts to ease tensions 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 stated. “We need peace, not war, to deepen our democracy and protect our people.”
Trump, speaking aboard Air Force One on Sunday, reiterated his threat of possible U.S. military operations in Nigeria, saying, “Could be, I envisage a lot of things,” when asked whether he was considering deploying troops or air strikes.
Earlier, he had written on Truth Social that he directed the Pentagon to prepare a potential attack plan for Nigeria, claiming that Christianity faced “an existential threat” in the country. He warned that if Nigeria failed to stop the killings, U.S. action would be “fast, vicious, and sweet.”
In response, presidential spokesman Daniel Bwala told AFP that Nigeria remains a “steadfast partner” of the United States 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 comments might be intended to prompt a high-level dialogue between both leaders.
He hinted that President Tinubu and Trump could meet soon to discuss shared security concerns and dispel misconceptions about religious violence.
Tinubu had earlier dismissed claims that Christians were being specifically targeted, saying Nigeria’s “religious tolerance remains strong” and that portraying the country as intolerant “does not reflect our national reality.”
