Nigerian business leader and former Transcorp Plc CEO Valentine Ozigbo has issued a powerful response to United States President Donald Trump's recent decision to intervene in Nigeria's affairs, calling for national honesty and comprehensive reforms.
A Moment of National Reflection
In his statement dated November 15, 2025, Ozigbo reflected on his 2018 experience chairing Unusual Praise in Lagos, where the event was dedicated to supporting victims of armed militia attacks in Benue State. He noted with concern that these patterns of violence have since spread across Nigeria, creating the current crisis that prompted President Trump's intervention.
The timing of Trump's intervention represents a critical juncture for Nigeria, according to Ozigbo, who emphasizes that the nation must first admit it has deep-rooted problems in governance, justice, and moral leadership before any meaningful healing can occur.
Diplomatic Response and Leadership Failure
Ozigbo expressed disappointment in the Nigerian government's reaction to the US intervention, stating that it presented an opportunity for strategic diplomatic engagement that was missed. He specifically called out President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for failing to activate a high-level diplomatic mission to Washington to address concerns while maintaining national dignity.
Some of the official reactions we've heard so far have been unhelpful, even counterproductive, Ozigbo noted, emphasizing that diplomacy represents strategic thinking rather than emotional reactions.
Pathway to National Renewal
The business leader turned political commentator outlined several critical reforms needed for Nigeria's survival and growth. He urged his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and President Tinubu to take full responsibility for past and present failures, showing humility and committing to genuine repentance.
Key electoral reforms proposed include:
- Implementation of electronic voting systems
- Real-time transmission of election results
- Allowance for independent candidacy in elections
- Clear legislation and timelines for each reform
These reforms are not political luxuries—they are moral imperatives, Ozigbo stressed, adding that a nation's destiny cannot rise higher than the credibility of its elections.
Call for National Dialogue and Restructuring
Ozigbo strongly recommended convening a structured national conversation involving The Patriots, the Fatherland Group advocating the Orange Union Model, and Federal Government representatives. He identified the 2014 National Conference Report as a credible blueprint for this dialogue, born of consensus and national goodwill.
The multiple-award-winning global CEO emphasized that Nigeria's diversity should be a source of strength rather than suspicion, advocating for true federalism, balanced devolution of powers, and regional autonomy within a united framework.
Beyond political reforms, Ozigbo called for restoring the nation's moral compass by eliminating criminality through justice and intelligence rather than arbitrary force. Security is not only about the absence of war; it is the presence of justice, he concluded, expressing hope that Nigeria can rise again if these actions are taken with courage and humility.
