Kwankwaso, Lamido call for national unity over Donald Trump’s threat

By Kunle Sanni –

Former Governors Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and Sule Lamido have jointly called for calm, unity, and diplomatic engagement following recent remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, who threatened military action against Nigeria after designating the country as a “nation of particular concern.”

In separate statements released on Sunday, both leaders condemned Trump’s comments as reckless and dangerous, urging Nigerians to stand together in defense of the nation’s sovereignty while pursuing diplomatic solutions to ease tensions.

Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State, expressed deep concern over Trump’s “heightened pronouncements” on Nigeria, stressing that the country’s insecurity is not based on religion, ethnicity, or politics. He urged the United States to assist Nigeria through technological and intelligence support rather than threats that could further divide the nation.

“Our country is sovereign, and the insecurity we face does not distinguish between faith or tribe,” Kwankwaso said. “The United States should assist Nigerian authorities with cutting-edge technology to tackle these problems instead of issuing threats that may polarize our people.”

He further called on the Nigerian government to appoint special envoys and permanent ambassadors to engage the U.S. government, while appealing to Nigerians to unite across all divides.

Similarly, Lamido, a former governor of Jigawa State and former foreign affairs minister, described Trump’s threat as “ominous” and warned that its consequences could be dire. He urged President Bola Tinubu to set aside political pride and convene a closed-door meeting with all past leaders to discuss a coordinated response.

“It is time for all Nigerians of every creed to unite around our sovereignty,” Lamido said. “President Tinubu must invite all past presidents and heads of state to deliberate on this dangerous development. Our former leaders are well positioned to engage the U.S. through quiet diplomacy to resolve any concerns that exist.”