Governor Sanwo-Olu Urges Nigerians to Unite and Defend Government Amid US President’s Intervention Threat

The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has called upon all Nigerians to embrace unity and set aside political differences, using the recent threat of military intervention by the US President as a “wake-up call” to stand in defense of the nation’s sovereignty and its current administration.

The Governor’s appeal was conveyed today, Tuesday, November 11, 2025, through his Deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, during a political engagement, where the discourse focused on the domestic and international implications of the US President’s decision to designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern.”

Sanwo-Olu stressed that the country is passing through a critical moment that demands collective resolve. “Let us go out there and be proud and defend this government,” the Governor urged. “This is not the time to play opposition politics. We must all come to the realization that all our hopes, aspirations, and dreams… rest squarely on the continued existence of Nigeria.”

Economic Assets Must Be Protected

The Lagos Governor backed his call for national defense with economic arguments, stressing the need to protect major national assets that have attracted significant Nigerian investment. He cited the Dangote Refinery a $20 billion project as a symbol of the nation’s capacity and pride that requires protection.

“If somebody spent 20 billion US dollars, is it a joke? The man spent 20 billion dollars, that is one-third of the full-time expenditure of the federal government [and] all 36 states,” Sanwo-Olu queried rhetorically, insisting that the national interest must supersede all other considerations in the face of foreign threats.

The Governor’s statement adds a major voice to the chorus of government and religious leaders urging calm and diplomatic engagement, even as the government maintains that the US President’s claims regarding religious persecution are exaggerated and do not reflect Nigeria’s true security reality. His call for unity echoes that of the Olubadan of Ibadanland and chieftains of the ruling APC, all of whom have insisted that a unified front is the most effective response to external pressure.