Former presidential aspirant and Convener of the YesWeFit Revolutionary Movement, Dr. Thomas-Wilson Ikubese, has cautioned that engaging in propaganda or seeking a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump without showing genuine political will to confront insecurity in Nigeria would amount to “a voyage in futility.”
Ikubese’s warning follows Trump’s recent directive to the U.S. Defense Department to prepare for possible swift military action in Nigeria over reports of mass killings and alleged persecution of Christians.
Speaking in Akure, Ikubese faulted the long-standing approach of Nigerian leaders in tackling banditry and terrorism, accusing them of allowing criminal elements to operate freely across the country.
“For several years, our political leaders have allowed bandits, kidnappers, and terrorists to operate unhindered across virtually all states in Nigeria,” he said.
He also alleged that security agents who successfully captured or surrounded terrorists were often ordered to release them under “instructions from above,” a practice he said has cost many security operatives their lives.
Citing Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal’s recent statement that he knows the hideouts of terrorists but is powerless to act because states lack control over security agencies, Ikubese lamented the weak coordination between federal and state authorities on security matters.
He further condemned viral videos showing armed terrorists arriving for “peace negotiations” with government officials, noting that some of them were seen wearing military camouflage.
According to him, the Nigerian political class has grown accustomed to such developments, prompting some citizens and groups to appeal for foreign intervention — a move that provoked Trump’s threat of military action.
“What Nigerians desire is a safe nation where people can freely practice their religion and travel across the country without fear of abduction,” Ikubese said. “Had that been the case, President Trump’s threat would never have arisen.”
He emphasized that beyond foreign assistance or advanced weaponry, Nigeria urgently needs political will.
“Even if the U.S. provides the best equipment and intelligence, political will is required to use them effectively,” he stressed.
Ikubese therefore called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately convene a meeting with all service chiefs and issue firm directives to eliminate terrorists and their sponsors, regardless of their social or political status.
“Throwing shades at the American government, embarking on propaganda, or seeking an audience with President Trump without taking decisive action will amount to futility,” he warned. “If the Nigerian government had done the needful, President Trump would have had no reason to put the Pentagon on alert.”
