Trump’s threat: Adeleke advocates renewed engagement between Nigeria, US

By Ayox Ojo

Osun governor, Ademola Adeleke has called called for renewed diplomatic engagement between Nigeria and the United States of America, USA over recent threats by President Trump to attack Nigeria over alleged killing of Christians.

Adeleke, in a statement on Monday advocated for diplomatic solutions within the context of decades of productive and rewarding Nigeria-American diplomatic partnership.

The Osun State Governor also appealed the Trump to support Nigeria to fully implement the country’s recently developed national security strategy.

According to the Governor, the new strategy “is comprehensive and capable of taking on the monster of banditry and terroristic killings in many parts of the country.”

While commiserating with families of victims across the northern region, Adeleke said the American intervention is a wake up call to rigorously implement new security measures and forceful counter- terrorism actions in partnership with diplomatic allies.

He added that Nigeria needs “help from the United States and others to solve the terrorism challenge.”

“Nigeria suffers from unfortunate killings across Northern Nigeria which has claimed lives of many innocent citizens. We believe a high-powered engagement at the presidential level will particularly open to the American government the ongoing security operations, successes and challenges Nigeria is facing in the fight against terrorism.

“We need our international partners to expand their support for the Nigerian security agencies and its political leadership to face national security challenges. Peaceful interface between Abuja and Washington holds the key rather than military intervention by the American government”, the Governor was quoted as saying.

Governor Adeleke who drums support of the political class for the Nigerian government over the ongoing face off further lauded the Presidency for its diplomatic moves to douse the tension and address genuine concerns of western partners especially the United States of America.

“This is the time to unite as a nation to support the national leadership to frontally address internal and external threats for the protection of the citizenry. This is the time to back the President to enforce the letters and spirit of the constitution in all facets of national life. We need peace, not war to deepen our democracy and protect our citizens”, the governor said.