Mahmud Jega, a news analyst with Arise Television, has stated that President Bola Tinubu should not be held accountable for the recent United States military strikes in western Nigeria.
Speaking on Friday during Arise Television’s Morning Show, Jega assessed the implications of the US action and Nigeria’s response, noting that the strikes are unlikely to significantly affect the 2027 elections unless the security situation worsens in the coming weeks.
Jega highlighted that the Nigerian government had previously countered what it described as a misleading narrative from the administration of US President Donald Trump. According to him, the presidency emphasized that while Nigeria faces terrorism, banditry, and widespread insecurity, these challenges should not be framed as an interreligious conflict or a genocide targeting any religious group.
He praised the Tinubu administration for responding appropriately, sending delegations to the United States for discussions, though the details of these talks remain confidential.
Jega explained, “No, I don’t think many people will blame the Tinubu administration for what is happening now because President Donald Trump, when he first addressed the threats, was acting independently, not in coordination with Nigeria’s government. The Nigerian presidency immediately clarified that while we have serious terrorism and insecurity issues, it is not an interreligious war or genocide.
“The Tinubu administration did well to push back against the Trump administration’s narrative and to send delegations to the US to negotiate. We don’t know the full details of these conversations, but the current developments are likely a result of those engagements.
“I don’t think anyone will hold Tinubu responsible for the US strikes. For now, it’s unlikely to impact 2027 election calculations, unless the situation escalates. Ultimately, Nigerians will welcome any intelligence or material support from the Americans and other Western partners to help fight terrorism and insecurity across the country.”
