Prominent Nigerian entrepreneur and philanthropist, Dr. Stephen Akintayo, has warned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu against what he described as “diplomatic missteps” that could expose Nigeria to foreign interference similar to what befell Iraq and Libya.
Dr. Akintayo made the remarks in a social media post on Friday, where he shared a statement titled “President Tinubu Should Avoid Ending Up Like Saddam Hussein and Gaddafi — So Should Nigeria (Part 1).”
He stated that while he did not support President Tinubu during the 2023 elections, he stands firmly against any external invasion or destabilisation of Nigeria.
“I didn’t vote for President Tinubu, but let me be clear: I do not support any invasion of Nigeria — absolutely not! We’ve seen this movie before in Iraq and Libya, and those nations never recovered,” he wrote
‘Diplomatic Quagmire’ and Western Relations
The business magnate expressed concern over what he called Nigeria’s “diplomatic quagmire,” questioning the Tinubu administration’s apparent distance from former U.S. President Donald Trump and Western allies.
“President Tinubu is a politically astute strategist. So how did he end up in this diplomatic position? Even China keeps open channels with the White House,” he queried, urging stronger ties with Washington.
Rising Religious Killings
Dr. Akintayo also condemned the rising wave of religious violence in Nigeria, saying both Christians and Muslims have become victims of escalating insecurity.
He described the situation as “near-genocidal,” warning that Nigeria’s Muslim–Muslim ticket had worsened perceptions abroad — even if President Tinubu himself opposes sectarian violence.
“This isn’t about truth; it’s about perception — and perception is often stronger than reality,” he said.
Foreign Interests and Resource Politics
The philanthropist further alleged that Western powers were showing “desperate interest” in Nigeria’s mineral-rich regions, particularly in the North-East, citing a former Chief of Defence Staff who claimed that Boko Haram enjoyed foreign support.
“Western nations are desperate about Nigeria because whoever controls Nigeria controls Africa,” he said.
“When I visited Maiduguri in 2019, I saw more helicopters at the airport than I’d ever seen in Lagos.”
Call for Leadership and Unity
Dr. Akintayo urged President Tinubu to take decisive action to end the killings and avoid being influenced by political actors sympathetic to extremists.
He advised the President to seek counsel from predecessors and respected Christian leaders with influence in Washington, noting that true leadership “is servanthood, not emperorship.”
“The promise of a second term is not worth the destruction of our nation,” he warned.
“Nigeria may not survive if we fail to stop the killings now.”
