Former military head of state, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), has urged Nigerians to put aside their differences and stand together in defence of the country’s sovereignty.
Abdulsalami made the call in reaction to recent comments by former US president Donald Trump, which he described as a “grave threat to the country’s hard-won unity.”,
Over the weekend, Trump reignited controversy over Nigeria’s security situation after he redesignated the country as a “country of particular concern.”
In a statement released on Friday, Trump claimed that Nigeria was experiencing a “Christian genocide” and accused the government of failing to protect Christians from attacks by “Islamic terrorists.”
He went further to threaten military action, saying: “The USA will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country ‘guns-a-blazing’, to completely wipe out the Islamic terrorists killing Christians.”
The remark has sparked global concern and speculation about the possibility of direct US military involvement in Nigeria, one of Washington’s oldest allies in Africa.
Speaking in a telephone interview from London on Monday, Abdulsalami warned that Trump’s words could endanger Nigeria’s peace if not carefully managed.
He called on citizens to remain united, stressing that the moment demands “unity, wisdom, and diplomacy” rather than anger or division.
“Unity, wisdom, and diplomacy must take precedence over division and pride at this critical moment,” he said.
Abdulsalami also appealed to the United States to support Nigeria’s fight against insecurity through cooperation rather than threats.
According to him, “strategic dialogue” remains the most effective way to engage Washington and de-escalate the tension.
He added that Nigeria should rely on quiet diplomacy to resolve any misunderstandings and ensure that both countries continue to work together on shared security objectives.