Dele Momodu, publisher of Ovation Magazine
Dele Momodu, a chieftain of the African Democratic Party (ADC), has advised President Bola Tinubu to rally Nigerians with international credibility to engage with United States President Donald Trump.
Momodu was reacting to the recent designation of Nigeria as “a country of particular concern” by Trump, over alleged killing of Christians in the country.
Speaking on Friday on Channels Television’s Morning Brief programme, Momodu urged the president to eschew politics and rally Nigerians who can diplomatically engage America.
“Nigeria is over-blessed with some of the most brilliant human beings on this planet,” he said.
Advertisement
“A lot of Nigerians are very exposed, and they have privileges all over the world that they enjoy. They have contacts, they have their networks.
”So, my advice to the president is, do not make it politics as usual. Reach out to those people, whether they are in your party or not.”
He advised the president not to rely on his advisers, as his engagement with the international community will be meaningful only if the messenger is appropriate.
Advertisement
The ADC chieftain said the video of Trump, in which he reiterated his designation of Nigeria, does not seem as though the US president was joking.
“I think Trump is convinced about the documents that have already been presented to him,” Momodu said.
“He is convinced that the Nigerian government is not serious. He is convinced that we are not ready. And he is convinced that we will try to buy time and then return to our usual hanky-panky.”
Momodu urged Tinubu to seek help from former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Emeka Anyaoku, former secretary general of the Commonwealth, Theophilus Danjuma, and other eminent Nigerians on how to address the issue.
Advertisement
He dismissed the allegations that the opposition was responsible for Trump’s remarks, adding that high-profile Christian lobbyists drew the attention of America to the killings in Nigeria.
“How can opposition that is trying to put its act together have time to go to Washington? I read yesterday that it was a bishop from Benue state,” he added.
The federal government has said that terrorist attacks in the country were not targeted at any religious group.
Advertisement
