The South East Coalition for Good Governance (SECG) has urged President Bola Tinubu to take the recent military threat issued by former U.S. President Donald Trump seriously, warning that dismissing the statement as political rhetoric could be costly for Nigeria.
In a statement issued in Enugu and jointly signed by Charles Offiah, the coalition’s president, and Chidi Onwuka, its secretary, the group advised Tinubu to “act fast, engage Trump directly, and ignore the noise from those playing politics with Nigeria’s security.”
The coalition described Trump’s warning as a “clear signal of intent” rather than a casual comment, saying Nigerians should not underestimate the weight of such pronouncements from someone who still commands enormous influence in American political and security circles.
“Those who appear on Nigerian TV making noise will still blame you if Trump comes gun-blazing through Nigeria.” part of the statement said.
The group advised the Tinubu administration to prioritize the dismantling of terrorist networks, restore law and order across the country, and secure the nation’s borders to avoid giving any foreign power justification for military intervention.
“Get the terrorists out of Nigeria. Secure the borders — any country without secure borders is no country at all,” SECG said. “Make sure the rules apply to every part of Nigeria. End the killing now. You asked for the job; you are the Commander-in-Chief — do the job and end the killing now.”
The coalition further urged Tinubu to leverage Nigeria’s diplomatic channels to strengthen ties with the United States, noting that collaboration — not confrontation — remains the best approach to national security and global perception.
“If you need equipment from America, go get it. If you have to sell some mineral resources in exchange, make the deal. You can partner with Russia, France, Britain, China, or America to fight this war — and we all know America is your best option,” the statement read.
The group cautioned that recent shifts in European politics, including the instability around French President Emmanuel Macron, make the United States a more reliable partner for Nigeria in terms of security assistance.
“Emmanuel Macron, whom you’ve been rubbing shoulders with, does not have a strong political footing in France. The new French president may not be your friend,” the coalition added. “May the Lord give our President wisdom” the statement concluded.
