Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has urged President Bola Tinubu to take firm diplomatic action against U.S. President Donald Trump following his recent threat of military intervention in Nigeria.
In a statement on Sunday, Gumi described Trump’s remark as an insult to Nigeria’s sovereignty and called on the government to respond decisively.
“For Trump to threaten a sovereign country with military attack is a profound disrespect to our authority, but we can rise above it,” Gumi said.
He advised the Federal Government to summon the U.S. ambassador and demand a formal retraction, warning that failure to do so should result in the suspension of diplomatic relations.
“President Tinubu should summon the U.S. ambassador; they either retract their threats or we sever diplomatic ties with this irresponsible regime,” he added.
Gumi emphasized that Nigeria has other strategic partners and should not depend on any single foreign power.
“The world is no longer unipolar. Nigeria has friends elsewhere who respect our sovereignty,” he said.
His remarks followed Trump’s threat to invade Nigeria to “eliminate Islamic terrorists” over alleged genocide against Christians.
Gumi, known for advocating dialogue with armed groups, reiterated his stance on peaceful engagement. He compared the process to the Niger Delta amnesty program, saying it could restore lasting peace.
Speaking after a peace meeting in Katsina’s Sabuwa Local Government Area, where community leaders met with bandits, Gumi said:
“Alhamdulillah. News has come that today, Sabuwa Local Government has also held a peace settlement with the bandits in the forests, to establish peace throughout the entire area.”
He urged security agencies to support the peace initiative rather than disrupt it.
“Those who fuel war, may Allah bring them down. And may the security agencies avoid destroying this peace agreement but instead teach them how to live in peace, just as was done with the Niger Delta militants. May Allah bring us peace. Ameen,” he prayed.
