Lawmaker representing Obokun State Constituency OSHA, Hon. Adewumi Adeyemi (Irekandu) has reiterated that Trump’s Threat is a Wake-Up Call for Nigeria to Reform, Not Retreat”.
According to him, in a statement issued and signed by the lawmaker, Irekandu enjoins that Nigeria needs internal reforms and accountability.
Read full statement below:
President Trump’s Remarks and Nigeria’s Wake-Up Call
“The recent remarks credited to United States President Donald Trump, threatening potential United States military action in Nigeria and instructing the United States Defence Department to prepare for possible “fast” intervention while also warning of a halt to American aid, are deeply concerning and diplomatically inappropriate.
No nation, no matter how powerful, has the moral or legal right to threaten the sovereignty of another. Under Article 2(4) of the Charter of the United Nations, all member states are obliged to refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state. Nigeria, as a sovereign member of the United Nations, is entitled to that protection.
Similarly, under Sections 217 and 218 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), only the President, acting within the limits of Nigerian law and democratic processes, can authorise the deployment of the Armed Forces of the Federation. No foreign entity, regardless of influence or interest, can usurp this constitutional power.
That said, it would be intellectually dishonest and morally weak for us as Nigerians to ignore the underlying message behind such a statement. If there were no loopholes in our governance system, there would be no space for any external power to exploit our internal weaknesses.
We cannot deny that Nigeria is facing deeply rooted challenges. Hunger, insecurity, unemployment, a struggling economy, and growing disillusionment among the youth have weakened our social fabric. The failure of governance that stems from a failure of political leadership has widened the gap between government and the people. When governance becomes reactive rather than proactive, external powers begin to perceive vulnerability.
The Federal Government must therefore own up and rise to its responsibilities. The time for excuses is long gone. Nigerians deserve leadership that is responsive, competent, and compassionate. Leadership must listen, reform, and deliver. The first step to regaining respect internationally is to demonstrate responsibility domestically.
President Trump’s remarks, while provocative, should be seen as a wake-up call, not to provoke fear but to provoke reform. Nigeria must confront its internal contradictions decisively. Government must address hunger with actionable agricultural reforms, invest in youth employment and innovation, and prioritise national security through intelligence-led strategies rather than reactionary force.
However, President Trump must also remember that the foundation of global peace is mutual respect. True statesmanship lies not in threats but in partnership. If his administration truly seeks to help Nigeria, let it do so through cooperative frameworks that support security reform, trade, education, and development initiatives, not through intimidation or unilateral threats of force.
History has shown that foreign interventions under the guise of protection often lead to catastrophic instability. The tragic experience of Libya stands as a warning. Once sovereignty is violated and national institutions collapse, rebuilding becomes a generational struggle. The instability that follows military intervention often surpasses the crisis it claimed to resolve.
Nigeria must therefore guard her democracy jealously. Our democracy, with all its imperfections, remains the best platform for national renewal. The path forward lies not in external rescue but in internal responsibility. As leaders, our duty goes beyond preparing for the next elections. It is to confront the real problems facing our people and to lead with integrity, empathy, and courage.
I sympathise with all and anyone who has lost someone or a people in any circumstances, especially through insecurity.
Whether Christian, Muslim, or of any faith, no one deserves to lose their life to senseless violence. Kidnappers are tearing families apart, leaving them in pain and fear. People are dying in the name of religion and other avoidable causes. This has to stop. I imagine what the families of these victims are going through. Some parents will never see their children again, while some children will never see their parents again. Let us rise to build. Let us put a timeline to what we are building. Let us communicate our strategies to the people. Let us lead well. When criticised, let us look inward and make corrections. I love my nation, and I believe in her sovereignty.
This is a defining moment for Nigeria to reflect, reform, and rise. We must use this moment to strengthen our institutions, protect our values, and restore the confidence of our citizens in their government.
Let us treat President Trump’s statement as a challenge to build a nation so strong in purpose and governance that no one will ever again contemplate intervention in our affairs. Let Nigeria stand tall, united in purpose, anchored in justice, and driven by the will to succeed.
May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Adewumi Adeyemi (Irekandu)
Architect | Legislator | Leadership Advocate
Member, Osun State House of Assembly.
