Professor Akinwande Bolaji Akinyemi, veteran scholar of International Relations and former Minister of External Affairs, has described the recent U.S. airstrike against insurgents in Sokoto as a potentially positive intervention for Nigeria.
Speaking to reporters, Akinyemi said he hopes the move will curb internal marginalisation and ensure equal treatment of all Nigerian groups. “I hope that the intervention by Donald Trump will be a positive one in the sense that now, we will have a Nigeria of equity. All Nigerian groups will be regarded as having equal stakeholders. There will not be marginalisation and there will be no group that will be regarded as sacred,” he said.
Akinyemi highlighted historical patterns of neglect and selective treatment within Nigerian governance, describing Trump’s engagement as an opportunity to stop “internal colonialism.” He also noted that the Sokoto intervention is not expected to be the last and urged the government to correctly interpret the intentions behind U.S. actions.
On the diplomatic front, Akinyemi observed that Nigeria’s previous interactions with U.S. delegations were inconsistent, sometimes failing to fully convey on-ground realities.
He said, “The Americans are saying, ‘we know what we came to look for and we’ve found it. Why should we now be taking to those perpetrating the problem when we’ve seen the evidence we’re looking for?’”
The professor stressed that the country must better coordinate its foreign engagements, particularly when addressing sensitive issues such as the persecution of Christians in northern Nigeria.
“If you send a delegation made up of Muslims to convince Trump there is no persecution, what are you saying?” he asked, emphasizing the need for accurate representation in diplomatic channels to maintain Nigeria’s credibility and influence on the global stage.