Attahiru Bafarawa, former governor of Sokoto, has advised President Bola Tinubu to avoid confrontation and embrace diplomacy in addressing comments by US President Donald Trump.
Bafarawa made the appeal in a statement on Tuesday, following threats of military intervention on Nigeria by Trump for alleged persecution of Christians.
He said Tinubu should avoid any hostile response and engage in constructive dialogue with the American government to clarify Nigeria’s position on the issue.
The former governor said maintaining a long-standing diplomatic relationship with the US is crucial for Nigeria’s stability and international standing.
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“I advise President Tinubu to shun confrontation and reach out to the American government to hear Nigeria’s version of the story,” Punch quoted Bafarawa as saying.
“America and Nigeria are strategic partners in international politics and diplomacy. It will, therefore, be in the best interest of Nigeria to foster and strengthen this long-standing relationship.”
Bafarawa also urged Tinubu to take international concerns about insecurity in Nigeria seriously and intensify efforts to address insurgency and related threats.
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He said the president must act swiftly to prevent incidents that could justify the concerns raised by the United States.
The former governor appealed to Nigerians to rally behind Tinubu in his efforts to stabilise and reposition the country for growth.
Bafarawa said the nation’s challenges require unity, insisting that citizens must set aside differences in religion, region, or politics to support the president.
“I call on all Nigerians to join hands together with President Tinubu to succeed because his failure is our failure, and his success is our success,” he said.
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