David Oladimeji
Ex-Jigawa Governor calls for urgent meeting of past leaders to protect Nigeria’s sovereignty
Former Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido, has sounded an urgent alarm over what he described as a looming threat to Nigeria’s sovereignty, allegedly emanating from the United States of America under President Donald Trump.
Lamido, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), described the development as “ominous” and called for immediate national unity to confront what he termed “a dangerous situation that could spiral beyond imagination.”
In a statement personally signed and made available to journalists on Sunday, Lamido said any act of hostility or aggression against Nigeria “under whatever guise” would have unimaginable consequences, warning that the country must not be caught unprepared.
“The threat of war on Nigeria from President Trump of the United States of America under whatever guise is very ominous,” Lamido wrote.
“The consequences of such action cannot be imagined.”
The former governor stressed that this was not a time for political finger-pointing, ethnic sentiments, or leadership pride. Instead, he said, all Nigerians—irrespective of creed, background, or political persuasion—must close ranks to defend the country’s sovereignty.
He particularly urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to set aside pride and partisanship by convening a closed-door meeting with all former Presidents and Heads of State to discuss the growing diplomatic tension and explore peaceful solutions.
“President Tinubu on his part must swallow his pride and invite all our past leaders for a close-door meeting to fully discuss and find a way around this dangerous development,” Lamido advised.
According to him, Nigeria’s past leaders possess the diplomatic wisdom and international goodwill necessary to quietly engage with the United States and de-escalate the situation before it worsens.
He appealed to the country’s elder statesmen—including past Presidents, military leaders, and diplomats—to overlook their personal or political differences with the incumbent administration and come together for the greater good of the nation.
“The leaders must on their part ignore whatever are their personal differences with President Tinubu and come to terms on how to avert this looming danger,” he said, emphasizing the urgency of a united front.
Lamido further proposed that such a team of past leaders should embark on what he called “quiet diplomacy”—a discreet form of engagement with Washington that would operate outside the glare of the media.
“Our former Presidents and Heads of State are more than eminently positioned to engage the USA and President Trump in an all-out quiet diplomacy outside the media realm to resolve whatever is the U.S. concern,” the statement read.
He warned that the situation demands immediate attention, stressing that delay or internal squabbles could only worsen the potential crisis. “For now,” Lamido cautioned, “Nigeria does not have the luxury of time.”
Political observers have since described Lamido’s statement as a patriotic call rooted in his long experience with international relations, especially given his past service as Nigeria’s Foreign Minister under President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Lamido concluded by reaffirming his faith in Nigeria’s resilience, expressing hope that reason, dialogue, and national unity would prevail over fear and confrontation.