How Tinubu turned panic into purpose amidst Trump’s CPC, war-mongering:

By Bolaji Ogundele




The just-concluded week may have been one of the most trying yet revealing phases of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. It tested not only the resilience of Nigeria’s diplomacy but also the inner calm and strategic depth of the man at its helm. From the storm stirred the previous week by Washington’s sudden designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” to President Donald Trump’s reckless threat of military action, the just concluded week underscored the defining difference between political theatrics and statecraft. Tinubu chose the latter, and prevailed.


What began as a diplomatic aberration rapidly spiralled into a global spectacle. In place of the customary notes verbales or state-to-state diplomatic correspondence, President Trump announced Nigeria’s CPC designation and hinted at a possible invasion through social media posts, an unorthodox and dangerously inflammatory approach that seemed calculated to provoke confusion, panic, and international embarrassment. It was the sort of provocation that had previously succeeded elsewhere, forcing smaller nations into hasty capitulation. But not this time. Not under Tinubu.


Those familiar with Tinubu’s political temperament were not surprised. From the moment the Trump announcement broke on October 31, the Nigerian President refused to flinch. For days, he maintained a dignified silence while assessing the situation and guiding his team away from reactionary outbursts. Where some of his officials initially responded in the heated tone Trump’s social-media assault invited, Tinubu insisted on composure and coordination. By mid-week, Nigeria’s messaging had shifted from defensive indignation to strategic diplomacy.


His message was clear: Nigeria will not be bullied. At Thursday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, President Tinubu broke his silence in firm, measured words. “We will defeat terrorism in this country,” he said, reaffirming that Nigeria’s security challenge, though grave, is being confronted with renewed vigour and unity of purpose. “Do we have problems? Yes. Are we challenged by terrorism? Yes. But we will overcome the CPC designation. Nigeria is one happy family, and we shall spare no effort until we eliminate all criminals from our society.”


By Friday, he amplified that message on his verified X handle, @officialABAT, rallying global partners to support Nigeria’s intensified campaign against terrorism instead of indulging in misinformation. “We will spare no effort and leave no stone unturned in our mission to eliminate criminals from our society. We urge our allies to stand firmly with us as we amplify our fight against terrorism”, he wrote.


The composure and clarity in those lines stood in contrast to Trump’s provocative rhetoric. It was a moment of statesmanship, one that calmed a jittery nation and reassured international observers that Nigeria was not descending into a diplomatic free-fall.


Analysts familiar with Trump’s style have often noted his preference for “deluge diplomacy”; using chaos and media noise to pressure opponents into concessions. But in this case, Tinubu’s quiet defiance short-circuited that script. Rather than rushing to Washington in panic, Nigeria opened a diplomatic channel with the United States through normal state procedures. According to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, on Thursday after the FEC, “channels have been opened. We prefer that this situation is solved diplomatically.”


Read Also: How Nigeria should deal with Trump’s military threat

He also underlined that Nigeria remains a stable democracy that respects religious freedom and is tackling insecurity without discrimination. “The killing of even one Nigerian citizen is of concern to the government,” he said, emphasizing that no nation should exploit such tragedies for political theatre. His statement was echoed globally: within days, China, Russia, ECOWAS, and the European Union all publicly affirmed their support for Nigeria’s sovereignty, urging Washington to respect bilateral norms.


Even as the storm brewed abroad, the machinery of governance continued unhindered at home. Thursday’s FEC session, which might otherwise have been overshadowed by the diplomatic row, instead became a symbol of steady leadership. President Tinubu not only reaffirmed Nigeria’s resolve to overcome terrorism but also presided over significant governance milestones.


Two new ministers were sworn into the Federal Executive Council; Dr. Bernard Mohammed Doro from Plateau State and Mr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh from Enugu State—filling vacancies created by the departure of two cabinet members. Their appointments, one a pharmacist-lawyer and the other a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, underscored Tinubu’s continued commitment to professional competence and regional balance.


But it was the finance briefing by Minister Wale Edun that captured the administration’s reform energy. Edun unveiled the next phase of economic reforms designed to push Nigeria’s growth rate to seven percent by 2027. “The next phase of reforms will remove barriers holding back investors,” he announced. “We will review tariffs and import restrictions to stimulate productivity and investment.”


Despite global uncertainty and political headwinds, he reported robust economic signals; GDP growth at 4.23 percent in Q2, inflation easing to 18 percent, and foreign reserves rising beyond $43 billion. The $2.35 billion Eurobond oversubscription, Edun noted, was proof of investor confidence in Nigeria’s economic trajectory. “The market shrugged off political considerations and focused on the fundamentals,” he said. For a country supposedly under siege, the numbers told a different story: confidence, not panic.


The week also brought a clear presidential directive that resonated across Nigeria’s educational sector. On Tuesday, President Tinubu told the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, that he “does not want to hear of strikes in the education sector again.” It was both an instruction and a warning, one that captured his administration’s focus on stability as a precondition for progress. The government, the Minister revealed, “has literally met ASUU’s demands,” and negotiations are continuing to ensure uninterrupted academic calendars nationwide.


In a period when the nation’s attention could easily have been diverted by international drama, Tinubu’s insistence on practical domestic governance, from education to economic reform, sent a powerful message: Nigeria is not a nation frozen by threats but one determined to grow beyond them.


As the week ended, it became evident that the attempt to humiliate Nigeria had failed. Instead, the episode reinforced Tinubu’s image as a leader capable of absorbing shocks without losing focus. His steady tone contrasted sharply with Trump’s bombast, and by choosing calm diplomacy over confrontation, he restored global respect for Nigeria’s sovereignty.


To many observers, it was a test of leadership Tinubu passed with distinction. He neither played the victim nor the aggressor. He chose engagement, not submission; resilience, not rhetoric. In doing so, he transformed a moment of danger into one of renewed confidence, domestically and internationally.


Nigeria today stands taller for it. Its allies have rallied behind it, its economy remains on track, and its government continues to deliver reforms in critical sectors. Amid turbulence, Tinubu has shown that true strength lies not in the loudness of response but in the steadiness of resolve.


As he put it succinctly: “We face challenges head-on and remain steadfast in our commitment to engage partners and champion Nigeria’s interests on the diplomatic front. We are confidently asserting our presence on the global stage, guided by unwavering calm, clarity, and a strong sense of purpose.”


That, indeed, is the mark of leadership under fire—and the quiet victory of Nigeria’s President in a week the world will long remember.


Beyond holding Nigeria’s side up firmly against Trump’s diplomatic bullying, President Tinubu’s week brimmed with engagements that reflected his trademark balance between governance, empathy, and nation-building. From mourning and mentorship to cross-border diplomacy and cultural celebration, the President moved deftly across the human and political landscape.


On Monday, he condoled with the family of Chief (Mrs.) Esther Olufunke Arthur-Worrey, describing the late matriarch as “a woman of grace, fortitude, and faith,” even as he celebrated Professor Ademola Adenle, the Nigerian scholar who won the inaugural World Academy of Sciences–M.S. Swaminathan Award for Food and Peace. Tinubu hailed the honour as a global badge for Nigeria’s intellectual leadership and the nation’s growing recognition in sustainability research.


By Tuesday, his focus turned to the private sector. In a heartfelt message to billionaire industrialist Femi Otedola, he lauded the Geregu Power chairman’s vision, philanthropy, and contribution to national progress, one that continues to inspire Nigeria’s next generation of business leaders.


Midweek, the President mourned Major-General Abdullahi Mohammed, a former Chief of Staff to Presidents Obasanjo and Yar’Adua, honouring his pioneering role in building Nigeria’s intelligence architecture. By Thursday, he was celebrating two national icons—veteran journalist Olusegun Adeniyi, whom he called “a voice and conscience of many Nigerians,” and Minister of Steel Development Shuaibu Audu, whom he praised for “reviving Nigeria’s steel dream.”


Friday captured Tinubu’s essence as both statesman and unifier: congratulating Omoyemi Akerele on her Earthshot Prize victory, saluting Dr. Reuben Abati at 60, hosting the Sultan of Sokoto in a bid to deepen interfaith harmony, felicitating the Emir of Borgu on his tenth anniversary, and receiving Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio at the Villa—rounding off a week that combined diplomacy, devotion, and quiet strength.


The Nation Newspaper Ltd.