Former President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Supo Ayokunle, has called on President Bola Tinubu to open direct diplomatic communication with United States President Donald Trump amid escalating concerns over the killing of Christians in parts of Nigeria.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Inside Sources, Ayokunle described the situation as “deeply troubling,” noting that Nigeria should have taken decisive action long before the crisis drew international attention.
He warned that the insecurity threatening Christian communities has persisted for more than fifteen years and could deteriorate further if the government fails to respond proactively.
Ayokunle urged the Tinubu administration to address the issue through constructive engagement with Washington rather than allowing tensions to spiral.
“President Tinubu should reach out to Donald Trump. If there is any assistance Nigeria requires, we should make that request ourselves,” he said.
He cautioned against waiting for foreign powers to intervene militarily, stressing that such actions could have long-term consequences.
“We must not wait until the US deploys troops here. Once a foreign army arrives, it becomes difficult to send them back. We don’t want a return to any form of imperialism,” he warned.
His comments follow President Trump’s recent statement threatening possible military action should Nigeria fail to curb the killings. Trump had disclosed that he instructed the Pentagon to prepare contingency plans in response to the reported attacks on Christians.
Reacting to the controversy, Presidential spokesman Daniel Bwala reaffirmed Nigeria’s status as a key U.S. ally in the global fight against terrorism and expressed optimism that dialogue between Tinubu and Trump would help resolve misunderstandings and strengthen cooperation.
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