The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has cautioned United States President Donald Trump against taking military action in Nigeria over claims of religious persecution, urging him to pursue diplomatic engagement instead.
Obi made the appeal in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, where he reacted to Trump’s recent statement threatening to deploy American forces to Nigeria following reports of alleged attacks on Christians.
Trump had earlier declared Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC), accusing the Nigerian government of failing to protect Christian communities from terrorist violence. The threat sparked widespread reactions from Nigerian leaders and citizens, with many condemning the idea of foreign military interference.
In his response, Obi described the US President’s threat as worrisome and unnecessary, saying that while Nigeria faces serious insecurity, foreign military invasion would only worsen the situation.
“The recent pronouncement by the US government declaring Nigeria a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ and indicating possible military action should give every well-meaning Nigerian serious concern,” Obi wrote.
He acknowledged that Nigeria is going through “an unprecedented level of insecurity” that has claimed thousands of lives, citing Amnesty International’s report that over 10,000 people have been killed since May 2023.
However, he stressed that the crisis could be resolved internally through good governance and stronger leadership.
“While the insecurity did not start with the present government, what is most unfortunate is the lack and absence of competence, commitment, prudent use of resources, patriotism and passion on the part of APC-led government to effectively govern and protect lives,” he said.
The former Anambra State governor maintained that both Nigeria and the United States have shared long-standing diplomatic and security ties that should not be jeopardized by threats or hostility.
“As democracies, Nigeria and the US have long been strategic partners committed to regional peace and security. That relationship should not falter. The present situation calls for constructive diplomatic and other plausible engagements aimed at addressing the prevailing security concerns,” he added.
Obi urged both nations to work together towards peace, highlighting that true partnership lies in dialogue, cooperation, and mutual respect — not in coercion or military might.
