The Nigeria Diaspora Coalition for Change (NDCfC) has called on President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to respond to recent remarks made by U.S. President Donald J. Trump with firmness and strategic restraint, emphasizing that reckless rhetoric must not be met with reckless reaction.
Recall that on November 1, 2025, Mr. Trump posted a statement on Truth Social threatening to halt U.S. aid to Nigeria and to consider military action “guns-a-blazing” if the Nigerian government “continues to allow the killing of Christians.”
NDCfC described this as an alarming breach of diplomatic decorum and a dangerous precedent in international relations, a statement by Dr LaBode Obanor, CSO NDCfC noted.
“Nigeria must defend her sovereignty, but she must do so with the discipline of a nation secure in its legitimacy’’, Obanor stated. ‘‘No sovereign nation should capitulate or submit to sabre-rattling. The response must combine clarity of principle with maturity of statecraft.”
The coalition commended the Federal Government’s initial response, which reaffirms Nigeria’s constitutional guarantees of religious liberty and its engagement with faith leaders across all divides.
However, NDCfC reminded the Tinubu administration that the primary and non-negotiable duty of any government is the protection of its citizens, adding that successive administrations, including the current one, have failed to uphold this fundamental constitutional obligation.
‘‘The persistent killings, abductions, and displacement of civilians, Christian, Muslim, and others, reflect a dangerous collapse of state capacity and political will. It is therefore imperative, not optional, that President Tinubu’s government act decisively to secure every Nigerian life and restore confidence in the rule of law. Until Nigeria proves capable of protecting its own people, claims of sovereignty will ring hollow before the world.
“The true measure of sovereignty is justice applied without bias. Every Nigerian life is sacred, and our credibility abroad begins with fairness at home’’, the Coalition said.
NDCfC Called on the Federal Government to:
- Summon the Nigerian Ambassador to the U.S. to deliver a formal protest note and seek clarification of the remarks.
- Submit a letter to the U.N. Security Council documenting the statement as a potential violation of the U.N. Charter’s prohibition on threats of force.
- Mobilize ECOWAS and the African Union to assert that an attack on Nigeria would be treated as an attack on Africa’s collective sovereignty.
- Propose a Nigeria-U.S. Joint Working Group on Religious Freedom and Counterterrorism to promote collaboration rather than confrontation.
What the U.S. could do.
Rather than resorting to confrontation or the language of invasion, the United States could play a vital and constructive role in addressing the insecurity that fuels these tragedies. Washington can redirect its engagement toward intelligence cooperation, capacity-building, and reform of the justice system-providing actionable intelligence on terrorist financing, arms trafficking, and extremist networks operating within and around Nigeria. It can expand training and logistical support for Nigerian security forces under strict human rights compliance, assist in rebuilding local policing, drones, and early-warning systems, and invest in community reconciliation and humanitarian relief programs for displaced persons.
The U.S. can also leverage its global influence to strengthen multilateral counterterrorism coordination through the United Nations and African Union, ensuring that all interventions comply with international law and protect the dignity of Nigerian lives.
Partnership, and not provocation, remains the only credible path to lasting peace.
The coalition stressed that Nigeria must demonstrate moral consistency by taking decisive steps to address insecurity and protect vulnerable communities across the country, including in the northeast, where both Christians and Muslims have faced grave violence.
“Nigeria cannot demand respect for her sovereignty while appearing indifferent to the safety and dignity of her people. Our rhetoric must match our commitment to protecting every Nigerian life’’, it emphasized.
NDCfC said it views this episode as a test of Nigeria’s regional and global stature and reaffirmed its solidarity with the Nigerian state, urging a response that combines strength, diplomacy, and strategic composure befitting Africa’s largest democracy.
“Nigeria must be seen to act with sincerity and integrity in its dealings with stakeholders and other international partners. The Tinubu Administration should use this moment as an opportunity to deal with insecurity and anyone found to be involved with supplying arms and or financial support
“This moment calls for courage, clarity, and a steady hand. Nigeria must lead with strength, and also with wisdom”, the Coalition emphasized.