By: Ngbede Silas
Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo revealed that, during his presidency, the United States consulted with Nigeria before making any major decisions regarding Africa.
In a speech delivered on November 10, 2025, at a youth retreat in Abeokuta, Obasanjo stated that, between 1976 and 2007, successive US administrations under Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush considered Nigeria a key voice in African affairs, which, he said, reflected the international respect and diplomatic influence the country had historically held.
“During my presidency, the United States never took any action in Africa without first consulting with Nigeria. That was the level of respect we had for them,” Obasanjo declared.
However, the former president contrasted that era of cooperation with what he described as the “hostile rhetoric” of current US President Donald Trump, who recently threatened military intervention in Nigeria over alleged violence against Christians, a situation Trump labeled “genocide.”
Nigeria’s current leader, President Bola Tinubu, quickly dismissed Trump’s claims, emphasizing that the country’s intercommunal clashes are not religiously motivated but rather stem from disputes over resources, climate change, and population pressure.
Tinubu further urged international partners to support Nigeria’s efforts toward development and peacebuilding, instead of issuing threats or statements that foster division.
The statements by both Obasanjo and Trump have reignited the debate about Nigeria’s global image, its role in African diplomacy, and the shift in US-Africa relations in recent years.
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