Former Presidential Candidate Sounds Alarm Over US-Nigeria Diplomatic Crisis
A former presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adamu Garba, has issued a strong warning to the Nigerian federal government regarding escalating tensions with the United States. This comes after US President Donald Trump designated Nigeria as a "Country of Particular Concern" and threatened military intervention over alleged Christian persecution.
In a social media post on Thursday, November 6, 2025, Garba emphasized the urgent need for Nigeria to prevent what he described as "damaging US planned hard actions" against Africa's most populous nation. The former presidential candidate, who identifies as a student of The Fourth Political Theory, expressed deep concerns about the potential consequences of the current diplomatic standoff.
Trump's Threats and Military Preparations
The tension between both nations intensified when President Trump publicly warned that "if the Nigerian government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the USA will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, 'guns-a-blazing'" to eliminate what he called Islamic terrorists.
Adding substance to these threats, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth confirmed on X (formerly Twitter) that the Department of War was actively preparing for potential action against Nigeria. These developments follow allegations by American lawmaker Ted Cruz, who claimed in an October 7 post that 50,000 Christians had been killed since 2009, with 2,000 schools and 18,000 churches destroyed by Islamist armed groups.
Garba's Warning Against Superpower Proxy Wars
Adamu Garba expressed particular concern about Nigeria becoming a battleground for superpower conflicts. While acknowledging potential support from China and Iran, he cautioned against what he termed "rapid cosmetic diplomatic relationships."
"Do you know that while you keep cheering the new actors supporting Nigeria against the U.S, we are basically helping them to create a frontline in Nigeria as a battleground for the superpower games?" Garba questioned in his social media analysis.
He pointed to international precedents, stating: "These countries will do everything possible to avoid direct wars in their countries, but they are salivating on creating a frontline battleground in another country to demonstrate their might, capabilities and strength, but at the expense of the host country. Check Ukraine and Syria, Sudan and Libya, also Congo."
The "Best and Only Option" for Nigeria
Garba concluded that Nigeria's "best and only option" remains finding diplomatic solutions to prevent American military action. He emphasized the reality of international relations where "everyone is for himself" and warned that other nations would not come to Nigeria's rescue in times of trouble.
"Your grand chessboard is your only way out, and you don't play chess while under pressure or by applying cosmetics," he advised, urging strategic thinking from Nigerian leadership.
The former APC candidate's comments come amid growing concerns about Nigeria's diplomatic positioning. Earlier, Lieutenant-General Abdulrahman Dambazau, former Chief of Army Staff, suggested that the United States might be using the situation as pretext to establish a military base in Nigeria, highlighting the complex geopolitical dimensions of the crisis.
As the situation develops, Nigerian authorities face increasing pressure to navigate the delicate balance between national sovereignty and international diplomacy while addressing the serious allegations that have triggered one of the most significant diplomatic challenges in recent years.
