A former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has frowned against any potential diplomatic meeting between President Bola Tinubu and U.S. President Donald Trump, warning that such engagement could result in the latter verbally and savagely assaulting, insulting and berating the Nigerian leader.

While describing the proposed meeting as baffling, Fani-Kayode argued that Trump’s motives are rooted in a desire to instigate a religious war to facilitate the exploitation of Nigeria’s natural resources, describing the move as a direct threat to Nigeria’s sovereignty.

The former minister stated this while delivering a keynote address during the 2025 Law Week celebration of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Akure Branch, with the theme ‘Nigeria: Quest for Utilitarian Judiciary and Roles for Stakeholders’.

Trump had a few days ago ordered the US Department of War to prepare for action in Nigeria to tackle Islamist militant groups, accusing the government of failing to protect Christians.

Following the remarks by the US President, the Special Adviser to Tinubu on policy communication, Daniel Bwala, stated that the Nigerian leader and his American counterpart will meet in the coming days to discuss claims of Christian genocide in the country.

Fani-Kayode, who called for the total annihilation of all terrorist groups in the country, in his address titled ‘Bow to God and Not to Trump,’ kicked against any form of negotiation or reconciliation with the groups, stressing that the violence they are perpetrating is not exclusive to one religious community.

He said, “The solution to the problem is for our political leadership and Armed Forces to muster the resolve and political will to ruthlessly wipe out the Islamist terrorists and foreign militias once and for all. That is an obligation that falls on the shoulders of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu alone, and he must honour it.

“The world and the Nigerian people want to see concrete action and the implementation of extraordinarily ruthless, violent and aggressive methods, and not just hear long talk, promises of success or long-winded and outworn platitudes from government officials.

“They (U.S.) created Al-Qaeda, they created ISIS, they created Al-Nusra, they created Boko Haram, they created Al-Shabaab and they created Al-Ansaru. They fund them, they created them and they support them to destabilise countries like us. But we’ve stood up to that over the years, and we’ve done very well as a country. In spite of all they’ve done, we’re still together; we’re still one. And we will fight this menace, and we’ll take it to its logical conclusion.”

Meanwhile, the Branch Chairman of the NBA, Friday Umar, stressed that legal practitioners have the responsibility to uphold the integrity of the judiciary and promote the rule of law, adding that lawyers must work together with the bench, government, and other stakeholders to create an environment that fosters justice, equity, and prosperity.

He said, “The quest for a utilitarian judiciary is not just a desire but a necessity for our nation’s progress. We (the bar, bench, government, and the citizenry) must therefore strive to ensure that our judicial system is people-centric, efficient, and accessible to all.”

While declaring the Law Week open, the Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who was represented by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Kayode Ajulo, stated that the legal profession remains one of the noblest callings known to mankind, as well as the bedrock upon which civilisation itself is built.

According to him, every thriving democracy rests on the backbone of a functional legal system, stating that the lawyers constitute the strength of the system.

“In Ondo State and across Nigeria, the contributions of the Bar and the Bench to political order, social balance and economic advancement cannot be overemphasised. The legal mind gives structure to governance, direction to policy and integrity to public institutions,” he said.