President Bola Tinubu
By DAVID IORJA, Abuja-
Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has strongly rebutted claims by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding alleged genocide against Christians in Nigeria, stressing that the country remains a beacon of religious tolerance.
In a public statement released today, Tinubu responded directly to Trump’s recent assertions, which were shared on his social media platforms.
Trump had claimed that Nigeria, under Tinubu’s leadership, was failing to protect its Christian citizens from ongoing persecution.
However, President Tinubu firmly disagreed with this assessment, emphasizing that Nigeria’s democracy is built on constitutional guarantees of religious freedom, which apply equally to all faiths.
“Nigeria stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty,” Tinubu stated, adding that since taking office in 2023, his administration has actively engaged with both Christian and Muslim leaders to address the security concerns that affect citizens across all faiths and regions.
The Nigerian leader further rejected Trump’s characterization of the country as religiously intolerant, calling it a distortion of Nigeria’s reality.
“The characterization 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,” he said.
Tinubu underscored that religious freedom and tolerance are foundational to the nation’s identity, with efforts to protect these values firmly embedded in the country’s policies.
“Nigeria is a country with constitutional guarantees to protect 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 the protection of communities of all faiths,” he affirmed.
In closing, the Nigerian president reiterated that Nigeria opposes any form of religious persecution and will continue to work toward the safety and inclusion of all faith communities.
“Religious freedom and tolerance have been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so,” Tinubu concluded.
The statement from Nigeria’s leader came amid growing international scrutiny over the security situation in certain parts of the country, where interfaith violence has been a persistent issue. However, the government maintains that it is actively working to address these challenges and protect its citizens, regardless of their religious affiliation.
