Indications from the Presidency suggest that President Bola Tinubu and American President Donald Trump will soon hold a diplomatic meeting to address Trump’s concerns about the alleged genocide against Christians in Nigeria.
Recall that US President Donald Trump had, on Friday, through a post on his Truth Social platform, claimed that Christianity in Nigeria faces an existential threat, designating the country as a “Country of Particular Concern, CPC,” over alleged killings of Christians.
President Trump alleged that radical Islamists were behind what he called a mass slaughter in Nigeria. He also instructed US lawmakers to investigate the alleged killings, accusing Nigerian authorities of inaction.
President Tinubu, in his response, dismissed the US President’s portrayal of Nigeria as religiously intolerant, saying the claim did not reflect the true situation in the country.
Tinubu said the remark failed to acknowledge the consistent and genuine efforts of his administration to protect freedom of religion and belief for every Nigerian.
The Nigerian President, in a post on his official account @officialPBAT, said:
“Since 2023, our administration has maintained an open and active engagement with Christian and Muslim leaders alike and continues to address security challenges which affect citizens across faiths and regions.
“The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality, nor does it take into consideration the consistent and sincere efforts of the government to safeguard freedom of religion and beliefs for all Nigerians.
“Religious freedom and tolerance have been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so. Nigeria opposes religious persecution and does not encourage it.”
He added that Nigeria remains a nation whose constitution guarantees the protection of citizens of all faiths.
“Our administration is committed to working with the United States government and the international community to deepen understanding and cooperation on protection of communities of all faiths,” he added.
Presidency explains shared counterterrorism interest
Meanwhile, the Presidency has revealed that President Tinubu and his American counterpart share common goals in combating insurgency and terrorism against humanity.
Through the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, the Presidency disclosed that both leaders are expected to meet within days, either at the State House in Abuja or the White House in Washington DC, to discuss whether terrorist attacks in Nigeria target only Christians or affect people of all faiths.
In a post on his X handle, @BwalaDaniel, the presidential aide wrote: “Both President @officialABAT and President @realDonaldTrump have shared interest in the fight against insurgency and all forms of terrorism against humanity.
“President Trump has assisted Nigeria a lot by authorizing the sale of arms to Nigeria and President Tinubu has adequately utilized the opportunity in the fight against terrorism for which we have massive results to show for it.
“As for the differences as to whether terrorists in Nigeria target only Christians or in fact all faiths and no faiths, the differences if they exist would be discussed and resolved by the two leaders when they meet in the coming days, either in State House or White House.”
It will be recalled that this is not the first time President Trump has accused the Nigerian government of genocide against Christians. On April 30, 2018, during a state visit to the White House by the late President Muhammadu Buhari, Trump had confronted him, asking: “why are you killing Christians. I won’t tolerate it any longer?”
