President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has warned opposition figure Peter Obi that the government will not forgive him for comments perceived as welcoming possible US military intervention in Nigeria.
The remarks stem from a video in which Obi reportedly said, “If Donald Trump said he will invade Nigeria, I will welcome it with open arms because security is my priority.” Onanuga accused the former Labour Party candidate of showing disregard for Nigeria’s sovereignty.
The footage resurfaced following a 1 November 2025 post by US President Donald Trump on Truth Social, directing the Pentagon to prepare for possible military action over attacks he attributed to Boko Haram, ISWAP, and armed herder groups. The US president claimed the violence amounted to Christian genocide.
Nigeria swiftly rejected Trump’s claims. Foreign Ministry spokesman Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa stated that attacks affect citizens of all faiths and are not condoned by the state.
Tinubu, during a defence briefing in Abuja, highlighted the appointment of a Christian as Chief of Defence Staff and stressed ongoing engagement with religious leaders to strengthen interfaith stability.
Presidential adviser Daniel Bwala clarified that Nigeria would accept assistance from the US only in a manner that respects the country’s territorial integrity.
Obi, in his video recorded on 23 November, framed security as his top priority, interpreting the US stance as a potential avenue for cooperation against armed groups rather than an endorsement of foreign intervention.
The controversy comes amid escalating insecurity in Nigeria, including recent mass killings in Kwara State and prolonged school closures in the north due to banditry, leaving millions of children out of school. Relations with Washington are further strained by the US designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern for religious freedom violations.
Last week, the Tinubu administration sent a delegation to Washington for consultations aimed at easing tensions.
