Former Presidential Adviser, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has faulted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for maintaining silence amid the growing diplomatic tension between Nigeria and the United States, warning that such inaction makes the country appear weak before the international community.
In a statement shared on his verified Facebook page on Thursday, Baba-Ahmed said President Tinubu’s refusal to personally address Nigerians following the US government’s hard stance was a failure of leadership.
“If President Tinubu has competent advisers and understands the weight of leadership, he should have spoken to Nigerians already.”
The former aide stressed that this was not a period for government officials or ministers to issue statements on the president’s behalf.
Instead, he stressed that Tinubu must directly communicate with citizens, explain Nigeria’s position, and outline clear steps to address the diplomatic situation.
“This silence suggests we have no voice or direction,” Baba-Ahmed said.
Reacting to reports that the president might consider travelling to the United States to meet with Donald Trump, Baba-Ahmed warned that such a move would be ill-advised and could further damage Nigeria’s international image.
“At this critical moment, Tinubu should not even consider travelling to America to meet Trump. Doing so would damage Nigeria’s image further. It would be like receiving a slap and smiling in return,” he stated.
He also expressed concern over the government’s delay in appointing ambassadors more than a year after taking office, describing the lapse as a major setback to Nigeria’s foreign policy.
“We have said it repeatedly, appoint ambassadors. Right now, many countries hardly engage with Nigeria because we lack official diplomatic representation,” he said, adding that “a nation without ambassadors is practically invisible in global affairs.”
Baba-Ahmed urged the president to take decisive action to restore the country’s diplomatic strength and rebuild confidence among Nigerians.
“If Tinubu listens to those who genuinely care about this nation, he must act now, appoint ambassadors, restore Nigeria’s diplomatic strength, and speak directly to the people he governs,” he maintained.
