The Nigerian Federal Government faces accusations of “glaring hypocrisy” and strategic incoherence following its confirmation of recent United States airstrikes against ISIS-linked terrorists in North-West Nigeria. A prominent civil society group, the Big Tent Coalition, led by Professor Pat Utomi, asserts that the government’s endorsement of foreign military intervention starkly contradicts its earlier condemnation of similar suggestions made by opposition figure Peter Obi.

Precision strikes by the US, in collaboration with the Nigerian Armed Forces, targeted identified ISIS-linked elements within Sokoto State. This operation, initially reported by various outlets, was officially confirmed by Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs almost 24 hours after its execution, prompting the coalition to highlight what it described as a profound inconsistency in the government’s approach to national security.

The coalition specifically recalled an incident barely a month prior, where the Presidency, through its Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, vehemently criticised Peter Obi. Obi had indicated a willingness to welcome US military assistance if it could enhance Nigeria’s security capabilities, a stance Onanuga then declared Nigerians would “never forget nor forgive,” portraying it as support for foreign intervention.

However, the administration has now officially endorsed and confirmed actual foreign military action on Nigerian soil. This turn of events, according to the Big Tent Coalition, exposes a government that “speaks without thinking, attacks without reflection, and governs without a coherent national security communication strategy,” thereby demonstrating a significant lack of clarity and consistency.

Charles Odibo, the Director of Media and Communication for the Big Tent Coalition, explicitly stated that the Tinubu administration owes Peter Obi an immediate and unreserved apology. Odibo argued that it is untenable to vilify a prominent citizen for expressing a conditional policy opinion only to subsequently implement that very option in practice. He described this reversal as a “flip-flop” that undermines the government’s credibility in its national security agenda.

Beyond the demand for an apology, the coalition expressed deep concern regarding what it termed the Federal Government’s disorganised and belated communication concerning foreign military operations on Nigerian territory. The group noted the contrast with US President Donald Trump, who personally announced the strikes, while Nigerians were left to piece together fragmented confirmations from different officials almost a full day later.

This communication lapse, the coalition contended, raises serious questions about leadership, transparency, and the effective management of Nigeria’s sovereignty. It questioned the Presidency’s silence if a “structured security cooperation” with the United States was indeed in place, why conflicting narratives emerged from different government arms, and why a presidential spokesperson hastily politicised what the coalition considered a patriotic comment.

The Big Tent Coalition emphasised that Nigeria’s security situation is too critical to be subjected to propaganda, knee-jerk attacks, and political posturing. The group stressed that effective leadership demands consistency, humility, and honesty in addressing matters of national importance, particularly those involving foreign military engagement.

In light of these concerns, the coalition called upon President Bola Tinubu to take decisive action. Their demands include instructing his spokesperson to issue a formal apology to Peter Obi, instituting greater discipline and coherence in government communication on national security, and personally addressing Nigerians to clarify the nature, scope, and operational rules governing foreign security cooperation within the country.

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