The Presidency has asserted that President Bola Tinubu had already prepared for the political maneuvers, which it described as an “orchestrated game,” now playing out in the United States.
Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga conveyed this on Sunday, directly addressing recent comments made by U.S. President Donald Trump.
The escalation began when President Trump designated Nigeria a “country of particular concern” on Friday. He justified the label by citing what he termed persistent violence against Christians and the government’s purported failure to protect religious minorities.
The Nigerian government has consistently denied any knowledge of systematic religious persecution targeting any group within the country.
Trump Threatens Military Action
The rhetoric intensified on Saturday when President Trump publicly warned Nigeria of possible military action. This threat was explicitly conditioned on Nigeria’s failure to take immediate, decisive steps to stop the alleged killings of Christians.
Responding to the heightened danger, Onanuga referenced a key section from President Tinubu’s recent address to his newly appointed security chiefs.
The spokesman highlighted that Tinubu had previously emphasized the urgent need for proactive, determined security measures across the nation.
Tinubu’s Proactive Orders to Security Chiefs
Onanuga wrote that President Tinubu was “well ahead of the orchestrated game unfolding in America” when he issued his directive to the new security leadership. The core of the president’s message focused on delivering demonstrable results, not excuses:
- Dynamic Threats: The President noted that “Security threats are constantly evolving, constantly mutating.”
- New Risks: Tinubu specifically highlighted the “recent emergence of new armed groups in the North-Central, North-West, and parts of the South.”
- Need for Decisiveness: “We must not allow these new threats to fester. We must be decisive and proactive. Let us smash the new snakes right in the head.”
- Focus on Delivery: “Nigerians expect results, not excuses,” the President instructed, demanding that the armed forces carry out their duties with patriotic determination.
- Innovation Mandate: Tinubu further charged the service chiefs to “be innovative, pre-emptive, and courageous.” He emphasized utilizing technology to maintain an advantage over groups that threaten national peace.
Diplomacy Planned to Resolve Crisis
President Trump’s threat of military action against Nigeria is generating intense reactions both at home and internationally.
Consequently, there are growing demands for President Tinubu to immediately enlist seasoned diplomats. The goal is to initiate steps toward a peaceful resolution of the escalating diplomatic crisis.
President Tinubu previously rejected the U.S. designation. He affirmed that Nigeria’s constitution guarantees religious freedom and that the American claims do not accurately reflect the national reality.
The Presidency has also announced that President Tinubu will soon hold a meeting with his U.S. counterpart to directly address and resolve these sensitive claims.\
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