Olawepo-Hashim Blasts APC Over Poor Diplomatic Strategy Amid Trump’s Threat

Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, a leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has criticized the All Progressives Congress (APC) for what he called Nigeria’s inadequate diplomatic reaction to the recent threat made by US President Donald Trump.

Olawepo-Hashim stated on Arise Television’s Prime Time program on Wednesday that the Nigerian government’s reaction, which he claimed demonstrated a lack of successful diplomatic engagement, startled him more than Trump’s remarks.

He pointed out that Nigeria has been without a fully functional ambassador in Washington for a considerable amount of time and criticized the APC-led government for neglecting to establish appropriate diplomatic relations.

“The threat from President Donald Trump does not surprise me. The Nigerian government’s reaction is what astounds me. Nigeria did not have a working ambassador in the US, despite years of hearings on these matters in the US Senate. “So how do you tell your story in a serious way?” he said.

Olawepo-Hashim called the government’s preference for unofficial routes over formal diplomatic channels “funny” and “unprofessional.”

When there are formal communication systems in international relations, they prefer back channels. A chargé d’affaires is not the same as your ambassador, who is your president in another country. He continued, “These institutions, like bilateral or biannational commissions, have been immobilized for years.”

He noted that negligence had also led to a decline in diplomatic ties between Nigeria and its neighbors, especially the Niger Republic.

He claims that Nigeria’s long-standing reputation as a stabilizing factor in West Africa has been damaged by the paralysis of these official structures.

“The APC government has adopted a careless and illogical foreign policy, especially under President Tinubu. We have previously been forced to the verge of an international conflict. The first was Tinubu’s vow to declare war on the Niger Republic. “That was the first mistake in foreign policy,” he declared.