By Temitope Mustapha, Abuja
The Presidency has highlighted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s strategic positioning ahead of emerging diplomatic headwinds with the United States following Washington’s allegations of Christian persecution in Nigeria.
This came hours after US President Donald Trump suggested that Nigeria could face direct military consequences under Washington’s renewed “focus” on the country.
His remarks followed the US decision to designate Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over alleged persecution of Christians.
Reacting to the latest threat of possible American military action, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said President Tinubu’s recent reorganisation of Nigeria’s military leadership and the directives issued to the new service chiefs show the President was already ahead of what he described as American “plots.”
In a post on his verified X handle, @aonanuga1956, Onanuga said Tinubu demonstrated foresight and firmness during the decoration of the newly confirmed service chiefs on Thursday, issuing a clear message that Nigeria would not tolerate new security threats or external attempts to undermine its 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. Nigerians want results,” Onanuga wrote.
He pointed to Tinubu’s charge to the military leadership, stressing that the administration would not allow insecurity to persist or permit emerging threats to take root in strategic regions.
Tinubu had told the service chiefs: “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.
“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 come amid intensifying diplomatic exchanges following Washington’s CPC designation, a move critics have described as inaccurate and politically motivated.