Hakeem Baba-Ahmed Urges President Tinubu to Address Nation Amid U.S.-Nigeria Diplomatic Tension

Hakeem Baba-Ahmed has urged President Tinubu to address the nation amid U.S.-Nigeria diplomatic tension.

NewsOnline Nigeria reports that Former Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has called on the President to personally address Nigerians over the ongoing diplomatic tension between Nigeria and the United States, warning that continued silence from the Presidency could project weakness.

In a post on his verified Facebook page on Thursday, Baba-Ahmed expressed concern that President Tinubu’s decision to remain silent while tensions escalate “makes the country appear weak, as though we have no voice or direction.”

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He stressed that the seriousness of the current situation requires the President’s direct communication, not statements from aides or ministers.

“If President Tinubu truly has competent advisers and understands the weight of leadership, he should have addressed the nation by now,” he said. “This is not the time for ministers or aides to speak on his behalf. The President himself should calm the people, explain our position, and tell us what steps he intends to take.”

Baba-Ahmed warned that the President’s silence risks deepening uncertainty both domestically and internationally.

Reacting to reports that Tinubu might travel to the United States to meet President Donald Trump, Baba-Ahmed advised against such a move, arguing that it would further harm Nigeria’s image.

“At this critical moment, Tinubu should not even think of travelling to America to meet Donald Trump,” he said. “Doing so would only worsen Nigeria’s image. It would be like receiving a slap and then smiling in return.”

He emphasised that any diplomatic engagement must reflect strength, clarity, and national dignity, urging the administration to rebuild Nigeria’s diplomatic capacity.

The former aide also criticised the government’s failure to appoint ambassadors more than a year into its tenure, describing the situation as “dangerous and diplomatically costly.”

“We have said it over and over again — appoint ambassadors!” he stated. “Right now, many countries barely engage with Nigeria because we lack official diplomatic representation. A country without ambassadors is practically invisible in global affairs.”

Baba-Ahmed concluded by urging the President to take decisive steps to restore both domestic and international confidence in his leadership.

“If Tinubu truly listens to those who care about this nation, he must act now,” he said. “Appoint ambassadors, restore Nigeria’s diplomatic strength, and speak directly to the people he governs.”

Baba-Ahmed’s comments come amid growing public debate over Nigeria’s strained relations with Washington and calls for stronger, more responsive leadership from the Presidency.