- Safiu Kehinde
Former National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Lai Olurode, has warned President Bola Tinubu and other Nigerian elites against walking into what he described as deathtrap set by the United States President, Donald Trump.
Olurode gave the warning in reaction to Trump’s threat of military action against Nigeria over the alleged genocidal attacks on Christians in the country.
NPO Reported that US President had directed the Department of War to prepare for possible invasion of the West African country days after designating Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern”.
Further reports on Thursday revealed the strategies mapped out by the US military in preparation for the invasion of Nigeria with terrorists’ camps singled out for possible airstrike attacks.
Reacting to the development in an article released yesterday, Prof. Lai Olurode, urged Tinubu to maintain his stance on diplomatic engagement with the US.
He warned against the display of emotions or morbid patriotism which may lead to Nigeria turning into a theatre of war that the US is allegedly luring it into.
“In his response to Mr. Trump’s provocative moves, President Tinubu’s government should display decorum and respect for the most powerful country in a unipolar world.
“Nigeria shouldn’t turn itself into a theatre of war which is luring it into. Simultaneously, I urge Nigeria’s elites to sink their differences and mobilize national sentiments behind the government of Nigeria and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. If Nigeria goes under, there will be no country for the pursuits of our diverse aspirations.
“There seems to be no country that can stop America. We should be diplomatic rather than being emotional or displaying morbid patriotism.
“President Trump can even be angry with even the truth. So far, our government has acted with caution and with the consciousness that America can kill Nigeria’s fly with a sledgehammer. It is suicidal to walk into America’s deathtrap.” Olurode wrote.
Prior to the warning, the retired Professor of Sociology noted that the US incitement of war in Nigeria was borne out of racial, economic, social and political reasons.
He held that Trump had since his assumption to office expressed what he described as blatant racial bigotry and hatred for the Melting Pot ideology.
Olurode alleged that America’s triumph globally feeds on fueling violence in the world’s fledgling democracy.
Nigeria’s uninterrupted democratic practice had, according to the former INEC National Chairman, transcended the expectation of many powerful countries.