Tinubu’s aide, Bwala, reveals reason for Nigeria’s Christian genocide claim

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has said that recent allegations of a Christian genocide in Nigeria were sparked by the country’s condemnation of the ongoing war in Gaza.

Speaking in an interview with France24 in Paris, Bwala linked the narrative to Nigeria’s remarks at the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York last month, where Vice-President Kashim Shettima, representing Tinubu, delivered the nation’s statement.

At the assembly, Shettima had denounced the killing of civilians in the Middle East and reaffirmed Nigeria’s backing for a two-state solution as the most credible route to lasting peace between Israel and Palestine.

“We do not believe that the sanctity of human life should be trapped in the corridors of endless debate,” Shettima said.

“That is why we say, without stuttering and without doubt, that a two-state solution remains the most dignified path to lasting peace for the people of Palestine.”

Bwala said that following Shettima’s speech, several Western commentators began circulating unfounded claims that Christians were being systematically targeted in Nigeria.

He described such reports as “false and politically motivated.”
“Those narratives began to spread after Nigeria condemned the inhumane treatment in Gaza,” he said.
“Within 24 hours, a comedian in the U.S., Bill Maher, started pushing this Christian genocide campaign.”

The presidential aide also accused some American politicians, including Senator Ted Cruz and Representative Riley Moore, of relying on “inaccurate and contradictory” information to justify their stance.

Cruz recently introduced a bill seeking to protect what he called “persecuted Christians in Nigeria,” while Moore wrote to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, urging diplomatic action against the Nigerian government over alleged religious persecution.

Bwala rejected these claims, insisting that Nigeria’s security challenges affect citizens of all faiths and are not driven by religion.

“We strongly object to the notion that there is systematic genocide in Nigeria,” he said. “Yes, we acknowledge there is insecurity, but those pushing a religious narrative are only trying to divide Nigerians.”

He further suggested that some Western actors were promoting the genocide claim to discredit Nigeria’s progress under the Tinubu administration.

“It is a cooked-up narrative by the West because they see that we are making gains with the economy and in the fight against insecurity,” he said.

Recall that the Nigerian government has repeatedly denied allegations of targeted killings of Christians, maintaining that its security operations address all forms of violence and terrorism without discrimination.