Prominent Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take firm diplomatic action against the United States following recent comments by former U.S. President Donald Trump about possible military intervention in Nigeria.
In a statement shared on his verified Facebook page on Sunday, Sheikh Gumi condemned Trump’s remarks, describing them as a “direct affront to Nigeria’s sovereignty” and an insult to the nation’s independence.
“For Trump to threaten a sovereign nation with military attack is a profound disrespect to our authority, but we can rise above it,” Gumi said.
He called on President Tinubu to summon the U.S. ambassador to Nigeria and demand a formal retraction of Trump’s statement. According to the cleric, failure to withdraw the threat should prompt Nigeria to sever diplomatic relations with Washington.
“President Tinubu should summon the U.S. ambassador. They should either withdraw their threats or we sever diplomatic relations with this irresponsible regime,” he added.
Gumi emphasized that Nigeria should not rely excessively on the United States for economic or military cooperation, insisting that the country has several other potential partners on the global stage.
“There are many other options for economic expansion and military alliances,” he stated.
The Islamic scholar’s comments come amid growing international debate over Trump’s earlier position on alleged religious persecution in Nigeria, which has drawn both support and criticism from different quarters.
While Trump’s remarks were welcomed by some Christian groups calling for intervention, others including Gumi have warned that foreign interference could endanger Nigeria’s sovereignty and worsen existing tensions.
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