By Peter Omopo, Lagos
A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dele Momodu, has called on President Bola Tinubu to reach out to respected Nigerians with global credibility to engage directly with U.S. President Donald Trump, following Washington’s recent decision to designate Nigeria as “a country of particular concern” over alleged attacks on Christians.
Speaking on Friday during Channels Television’s Morning Brief programme, Momodu advised President Tinubu to put aside partisan politics and enlist the help of eminent Nigerians capable of diplomatically managing Nigeria’s international image.
According to him, Nigeria possesses “some of the most brilliant and globally connected minds” who can effectively engage with U.S. policymakers and counter negative perceptions.
“My advice to the president is not to treat this as politics as usual. Reach out to credible Nigerians, whether they are in your party or not,” Momodu said. “Many Nigerians are globally exposed and have access to international networks and institutions. Those are the people who can make a difference in this kind of diplomatic situation.”
He cautioned against overreliance on presidential aides or political loyalists, arguing that meaningful international engagement depends on “having the right messengers.”
Momodu also reacted to a recent video in which President Trump reaffirmed his position on Nigeria’s designation, describing the U.S. leader’s stance as “serious and well informed.”
“I believe Trump is convinced by the documents presented to him. He thinks the Nigerian government is not serious, fears we may try to buy time and return to business as usual,” he said.
The media entrepreneur urged Tinubu to consult former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Commonwealth Secretary-General Chief Emeka Anyaoku, retired General Theophilus Danjuma, and other eminent statesmen for advice on resolving the diplomatic issue.
Momodu dismissed speculation that Nigeria’s opposition parties were behind Trump’s decision, insisting that the controversy was largely influenced by Christian advocacy groups in the United States.
“How can an opposition that is still trying to reorganise itself have the time or capacity to influence Washington? I read that it was a bishop from Benue State who briefed the Americans,” he explained.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has maintained that terrorist attacks in the country are not targeted at any specific religious group, describing the U.S. designation as “misguided and politically motivated.”
The African Union (AU) has also urged dialogue between Washington and Abuja to de-escalate tensions and promote mutual understanding.
