Prominent Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take strong diplomatic action against the United States following a controversial statement attributed to U.S. President Donald Trump, in which he allegedly threatened military intervention in Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Sheikh Gumi condemned Trump’s remarks as “a direct affront to Nigeria’s sovereignty,” urging the Tinubu administration to respond decisively to what he described as “an irresponsible and disrespectful threat.”
“For Trump to threaten a sovereign country with military attack is a profound disrespect to our authority, but we can rise above it,” Gumi stated.
The Kaduna-based cleric advised the Federal Government to summon the U.S. ambassador to Nigeria for an official explanation and demand a retraction of the statement. He further warned that failure to do so should prompt Nigeria to reconsider its diplomatic relationship with the United States.
“President Tinubu should summon the U.S. ambassador; they either retract their threats or we sever diplomatic ties with this irresponsible regime,” he asserted.
Gumi also stressed that Nigeria must begin to diversify its international alliances and reduce dependency on any single foreign power, particularly the U.S.
“The world is no longer unipolar. Nigeria has friends elsewhere who respect our sovereignty,” he added, hinting at possible collaborations with other global partners.
Trump’s reported comments, in which he threatened to “invade Nigeria to clear out Islamic terrorists” over alleged genocide against Christians, have sparked outrage among various political and religious leaders across the country.
Sheikh Gumi, known for his controversial advocacy for dialogue with armed groups, reiterated his belief that peace through negotiation remains the most effective path to stability.
Just weeks earlier, Gumi had publicly supported ongoing peace efforts with bandits in Katsina State. During a meeting in Sabuwa Local Government Area, traditional rulers and community leaders engaged with armed groups in the forest to foster reconciliation — a move Gumi hailed as a significant step toward lasting peace.
“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 local government area,” he said at the event.
“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,” the cleric added.
As tensions rise following Trump’s alleged remarks, analysts say the Tinubu administration faces a diplomatic test — balancing international relations with the United States while asserting Nigeria’s sovereignty on the global stage.