The Presidency says President Bola Tinubu anticipated the United States’ diplomatic posture after Donald Trump’s warning on alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria, stressing his administration remains firm on sovereignty and religious freedom
Tinubu Was Ahead of US Moves, Says Presidency After Trump’s Warning on Alleged Christian Persecution in Nigeria
The Presidency has stated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had anticipated possible diplomatic tensions with the United States following Washington’s recent designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over alleged persecution of Christians.
This comes just hours after US President Donald Trump hinted that Nigeria could face direct military consequences under America’s renewed “focus” on global religious intolerance.
Reacting to Trump’s remarks, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, said President Tinubu had already taken proactive steps to strengthen Nigeria’s internal and external security posture.
In a post shared on his verified X handle, @aonanuga1956, Onanuga said the President’s recent reorganisation of the Nigerian military structure and his stern charge to newly confirmed service chiefs reflected strategic foresight in safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty.
“President Bola Tinubu was well ahead of the orchestrated game unfolding in America as he told the new service chiefs on Thursday what Nigerians expect of them. No more excuses, he said. Nigerians want results,” Onanuga wrote.
He cited Tinubu’s assertive message during the decoration of the service chiefs last Thursday, where the President warned that Nigeria would not tolerate new internal or external security threats.
At the ceremony, President Tinubu said, “Security threats are constantly evolving, constantly mutating. Of grave concern to our administration is the recent emergence of new armed groups in the North-Central, North-West, and parts of the South. 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.”
He added, “Nigerians expect results, not excuses… Let’s stay ahead of those who seek to threaten our peace. Let us deploy technology where necessary. We cannot allow the crisis that began in 2009 to persist any longer. I promise to provide all the support you need to get the job done.”
Onanuga’s comments follow rising diplomatic friction between Abuja and Washington over the CPC designation — a label Nigeria has rejected as “inaccurate and politically motivated.”
Trump’s subsequent statement, which implied readiness to “act with force if necessary” against governments accused of religious intolerance, has further inflamed debate, with Nigerian officials and civil society groups condemning the threat as “unjustified interference.”
The Tinubu administration insists that Nigeria remains a nation of religious tolerance, with Christians and Muslims coexisting peacefully despite regional security challenges. Officials argue that the CPC designation fails to reflect the government’s efforts to address insurgency and sectarian violence without bias.
As of press time, no official military or diplomatic plan has been announced by the US government following the CPC designation. The statement attributed to Donald Trump has been widely circulated across social media platforms but remains unverified through official White House or State Department releases. Independent fact-checking organisations are reviewing the origin of the alleged remarks to determine their authenticity. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not issued a formal diplomatic response beyond previous rejections of the CPC status. Read More
