A renowned columnist and political commentator, Dr. Festus Adedayo, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to approach his anticipated meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump with utmost caution, warning that any display of aggression could worsen Nigeria’s fragile image before the global community.
Speaking on Inside Scoop, a public affairs programme on Adamimogo 105.1 FM, Ibadan, Adedayo described the ongoing diplomatic tension as a “moment of reflection” for Nigeria. He said the controversy surrounding Trump’s comments about alleged religious persecution and insecurity in Nigeria should prompt the Tinubu administration to conduct an honest assessment of its failures in protecting citizens.
“It’s not a time to apportion blames. Our leaders have been inept and hypocritical. They have played politics with the lives of Nigerians,” Adedayo lamented.
Citing figures from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), he recalled that as of 2021, Boko Haram insurgency had claimed about 350,000 lives, including Christians, Muslims, and traditionalists. He also referenced the admission by former Chief of Defence Staff, Lucky Irabor, that over 2,700 officers and soldiers had been killed in the line of duty in just twelve years.
Adedayo traced Nigeria’s worsening insecurity to years of denial and corruption within the political and military establishments. He recounted how the extrajudicial killing of Boko Haram founder, Mohammed Yusuf, in 2009 ignited a cycle of vengeance that has persisted for decades.
“Insecurity has become an industry in Nigeria,” he said. “Our generals have grown rotund cheeks, enriched by funds meant to fight terrorism, while civilians suffer the consequences.”
Turning to the recent claims by U.S. conservative senator, Ted Cruz, and the amplification of those claims by Trump — who alleged that Christians were being systematically persecuted in Nigeria — Adedayo admitted there was “some truth” to the accusations.
He cited instances such as the gruesome killing of Deborah Yakubu, a student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, who was lynched in 2022 over alleged blasphemy, and the death sentence of Kano musician Yahya Sharif-Aminu for making a comment deemed offensive to Islam.
“If we are honest, the North has been an embarrassment to the rest of Nigeria,” he said. “Religious impunity and Sharia excesses have created fertile grounds for violence.”
However, Adedayo cautioned Nigerians against celebrating Trump’s stance or hoping for American intervention, describing the former U.S. leader as “a bull in a china shop.”
“Donald Trump is not a friend of Nigerian Christians. He doesn’t care about religion; he thrives on showmanship,” he said. “Countries that welcomed U.S. interference — like Libya, Iraq, and Syria — have not recovered from it.”
He advised President Tinubu to heed the counsel of former Foreign Affairs Minister, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, who warned against confronting Trump head-on. According to Adedayo, any diplomatic escalation could isolate Nigeria economically and militarily.
“The president must approach Trump with humility and diplomacy,” he said. “Nigeria cannot afford to square up to America. We must avoid any move that could torpedo our economy or worsen insecurity.”
Despite his criticism of Nigeria’s leadership, Adedayo expressed cautious optimism about Tinubu’s potential to address insecurity if he remains “non-aligned” and sincere in his reforms.
“Tinubu is neither a religious zealot nor a tribal champion. If he is honest and decisive, he can reduce insecurity to the barest minimum,” he said.
Adedayo went further by urging Tinubu to meet Trump “with a contrite heart,” emphasizing that diplomacy, not defiance, should define Nigeria’s response.
“When your opponent has the upper hand,” he said, borrowing from Yoruba wisdom, “the wise thing to do is raise your hands in surrender — not out of weakness, but to preserve peace.”
