Nigerian Presidency Praises Trump's Letter to Tinubu, Criticizes Opposition During Elections

The Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, said that the letter from United States President Donald Trump to Nigeria’s President Tinubu shows the progress the Tinubu government has made in fighting terrorism. He added that this is not about seeking external approval.

In the letter dated 6 July, Trump praised Tinubu for his "decisive leadership" in addressing insecurity in Nigeria, especially the attacks on Christian communities. Trump also promised continued American support for Nigeria’s fight against terrorism.

The letter was shared by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, as a reply to an earlier message from Tinubu.

During an interview on Channels TV Politics Today, Bwala mentioned that the letter reflects a growing security partnership between Nigeria and the United States. He said this partnership has led to real results, like the killing of a senior ISIS commander during a joint operation.

"We share intelligence, we have local training, and then we conduct air strikes," Bwala said. He pointed out that the collaboration between Nigeria and the U.S. has reached a "deeper and commendable level."

Bwala emphasized that Nigeria’s fight against terrorism is driven by its own commitment, not by the need for external praise. He explained that while a letter of support can strengthen a partnership, it does not make a country committed to its own security.

He noted that both Tinubu and Trump are interested in fighting terrorism together. Any differences in views about whether attacks target specific religions will be discussed when they meet.

Bwala also shared that a senior U.S. government official recently visited Nigeria. He said this visit shows the progress in their relationship. The letter shows achievements not just with the U.S., but with the international community as a whole. He pointed to improvements in Borno State as an example of positive changes that Nigerians notice.

Nigeria and the U.S. have improved their ties under Trump, who previously accused Nigeria of allowing genocide against Christians. He had labeled Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern (CPC). Since then, Trump has toned down his criticism as both countries started sharing information and built a military partnership.

In the same interview, Bwala took aim at the opposition, calling critics of the letter “jobless thinkers.” He suggested their objections are more about politics than real issues.

"Why is this issue always coming up around election season? People don’t want to focus on what matters; they just bring this joblessness," he said.

Bwala argued that opposition figures have not engaged Nigerians positively and would communicate differently if they respected the public. He specifically mentioned Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), questioning why allegations against the government come up close to elections. He called such claims “baseless” and “frivolous,” accusing the opposition of trying to mislead Nigerians who are already worried about the country.

He urged the opposition to offer better solutions instead of dismissing findings about Nigeria’s security situation. Bwala also criticized some parts of the Nigerian media, saying they are hypocritical in their coverage of the government’s security achievements.