Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has called on President Bola Tinubu to take swift and decisive action following a recent threat of military action against Nigeria by former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Speaking out on his verified Facebook page on Sunday, Gumi described Trump’s threat as a “serious affront to Nigeria’s sovereignty and dignity”.
In his post, the cleric condemned Trump’s statement as a blatant insult to Nigeria’s authority. He urged the Nigerian government to demonstrate strength and restraint, emphasizing that while the threat is disrespectful, Nigeria must rise above provocative behavior.
“For Trump to threaten a sovereign country with military attack is a profound disrespect to our authority, but we can rise above it,” Gumi wrote.
Gumi went further to advise the Nigerian presidency to summon the U.S. ambassador to Nigeria to demand an immediate retraction of the threat.
He warned that should the U.S. representatives refuse to withdraw the threat, Nigeria should consider severing diplomatic relations with the United States.
This, he argued, would send a strong message deterring such ’reckless behavior’ in the future.
Highlighting the importance of strategic autonomy, the cleric urged the government to diversify its economic and military alliances beyond its traditional partners.
“There are lots of other options for our economic expansion and military alliance,” he added, advocating for Nigeria to explore partnerships that would better safeguard national interests.
This incident has reignited discussions around Nigeria’s diplomatic posture and security strategy in the face of external threats.
Sheikh Gumi’s call reflects a broader sentiment for Nigeria to assert itself firmly on the international stage while seeking sustainable paths for national development and defense.