U.S. Invasion Threat: Ex-Presidential Aide Urges Tinubu to Address Nigerians

Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, a former Special Adviser on Political Matters to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has urged the President to personally address Nigerians amid growing diplomatic tensions with the United States.

In a post shared on his verified Facebook page on Thursday, Baba-Ahmed expressed concern over what he called the President’s “worrying silence” during a critical national moment.

“If President Tinubu truly has capable advisers and understands the burden of leadership, he should have addressed the nation by now,” Baba-Ahmed wrote. “This is not a time for aides or ministers to speak for him. Nigerians need to hear directly from their President, he must calm the people, explain our position, and outline the steps his administration intends to take.”

The former aide warned that Tinubu’s continued silence “projects an image of weakness, as though Nigeria has lost its direction or voice.”

Reacting to reports that President Tinubu might travel to the U.S. to meet Donald Trump, Baba-Ahmed cautioned against the move, describing it as “a diplomatic misstep that would damage Nigeria’s image.”

“At this critical time, Tinubu should not even consider travelling to meet Trump. That would be like receiving a slap and then smiling in response,” he said.

Baba-Ahmed also criticised the government for failing to appoint ambassadors since assuming office, saying the lapse has diminished Nigeria’s global presence.

“We have repeated this severally, appoint ambassadors! Right now, many nations barely engage with Nigeria because we lack proper diplomatic representation. A country without ambassadors is invisible in world affairs,” he stated.

He then made a direct appeal to the President: “If Tinubu truly listens to those who care about this nation, he must act now, appoint ambassadors, restore Nigeria’s diplomatic strength, and speak directly to the people he governs.”

Baba-Ahmed, who resigned from Tinubu’s administration in April 2025 after serving under Vice President Kashim Shettima since September 2023, has previously ruled out returning to government.

During a Channels TV interview in May 2025, he said he left due to the administration’s handling of poverty and insecurity, which he claimed worsened under Tinubu’s leadership.

“I could not continue working in a government that neglects the country’s most pressing challenges,” he said.

Baba-Ahmed added that his decision was also driven by a desire to maintain his integrity. “I won’t be part of a government that, in my view, no longer holds the people’s mandate for meaningful change,” he declared.

Despite his resignation, he said he remains proud of his time in public service and continues to advocate for good governance and transparency in leadership.