Former military head of state, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), has urged Nigerians to set aside their differences and stand together in defense of the country’s sovereignty, following controversial remarks by former US President Donald Trump.
Over the weekend, Trump reignited international debate over Nigeria’s security situation after redesignating the country as a “country of particular concern.”
In a statement released on Friday, Trump alleged that Nigeria is experiencing a “Christian genocide” and accused the government of failing to protect Christians from attacks by what he termed “Islamic terrorists.”
Trump went further, threatening military action, stating: “The USA will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country ‘guns-a-blazing’, to completely wipe out the Islamic terrorists killing Christians.”
The remarks have sparked global concern and speculation about the possibility of direct US military involvement in Nigeria, one of Washington’s oldest allies in Africa.
Speaking in a telephone interview from London on Monday, Abdulsalami warned that Trump’s words could destabilize Nigeria if not carefully managed.
He called on Nigerians to remain united, emphasizing that the moment requires “unity, wisdom, and diplomacy” rather than anger or division.
“Unity, wisdom, and diplomacy must take precedence over division and pride at this critical moment,” Abdulsalami said.
He also appealed to the United States to support Nigeria’s fight against insecurity through cooperation rather than threats. According to Abdulsalami, “strategic dialogue” remains the most effective way to engage Washington and de-escalate tensions.
He stressed that Nigeria should rely on quiet diplomacy to resolve misunderstandings and ensure that both countries continue working together on shared security objectives.
