Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has appealed for calm and renewed diplomatic dialogue between Nigeria and the United States following threats by former U.S. President Donald Trump of possible military action against Nigeria.

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke urged both nations to engage constructively, emphasizing that “peaceful dialogue remains the only path forward.”

“I appeal to the Presidency of the United States to support Nigeria in implementing its new national security strategy,” Adeleke said, adding that the framework was robust enough to tackle terrorism and banditry if given international backing.

The governor condoled with families of victims of insecurity across the country and urged Washington to work with Abuja to strengthen counterterrorism operations rather than resorting to threats.

He also commended President Bola Tinubu’s diplomatic outreach aimed at easing tensions and addressing Western concerns, saying: “We need peace, not war, to deepen our democracy and protect our people.”

Trump, speaking aboard Air Force One on Sunday, hinted at possible U.S. military strikes, saying, “Could be, I envisage a lot of things.” He had earlier claimed on Truth Social that he directed the Pentagon to prepare a “fast, vicious, and sweet” strike plan over alleged killings of Christians in Nigeria.

Reacting, presidential spokesman Daniel Bwala told AFP that Nigeria remained “America’s partner in the global fight against terrorism,” adding that the comments might be aimed at prompting a high-level dialogue between Tinubu and Trump.

“The characterization of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality,” President Tinubu had earlier stated, affirming the country’s commitment to religious harmony.